Becoming More Like Jesus

Thomas a Kempis was a German Monk who lived in the late 1300's early 1400's. He is known for writing one of the best selling books other than the Bible of all time. The book is simply a series of devotional thoughts about imitating Christ--that is why the book is called "The Imatation of Christ."

In his first devotional thought (Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities of Earth), Thomas a Kempis says some of the following things:

"Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the Spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ."

"Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God."

"For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosopers, if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone."

What if you decided to take a step closer this year in becoming more like Jesus? What if the whole church comitted to taking a step closer to looking more like Jesus? It would change the culture a little bit both within the church an in the community.

This next year we are going to challenge ourselves to grow a little closer to Jesus so that we become more like him. But we can't just talk about it. All of us need to commit to become a little more like Jesus this next year. Maybe you only take one step closer. Maybe you take two or three steps closer.

We all need to evaluate where we are and then decide where we are going to move to this next year. Then we put a strategy in place to take a step or two closer to Jesus. Maybe it is with your finances. Maybe it is with your commitment level in worship. Maybe it is serving in some place. Maybe it is taking a short term mission trip. Maybe it is getting baptized (immersed) or becoming a member of Northwest. All of those things are great, but the focus is not just change, the focus is becoming more like Jesus in those areas of our life.

What do you say? Are you in?