Daily Devotional

David Will of the Imperials sings one of my favorite songs called “You’re the Only Jesus”.
Here are the lyrics to the chorus:

“You’re the only Jesus some will ever see.
You’re the only words of hope some will ever read;
So let them see in you the One in whom is all they’ll ever need.
You’re the only Jesus some will ever see.”

As a follower of Christ, you are becoming more and more like Him. And as you do, your non-Christian family members and friends are watching you. They want to see how you react in the midst of life’s adversities; when the boss unjustly yells at you, when you receive a cancer diagnosis, even when you get cut-off on the highway. In these examples (and many others), what are non-Christians looking for in you? A difference. What difference does following Christ make in your life? How is your life different from mine?

The Apostle Paul writes in (Ephesians 5:1–2) “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ^₂and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

To imitate someone is to follow someone as a model. That’s why the friends you hang out with can have a positive or negative impact on your life, depending on how they live their lives. You’ve probably heard the old adage, “You become like the company you keep.” And that is so true. It’s why your parents were so concerned about who you were going out with, or who was going to be at that party. They knew that there were people they hung out with growing up who had a negative impact on their lives, and steered them away from the things of God. And they’re trying to protect you from making the same mistakes they made.

But Paul writes in (Ephesians 5:1) “Be imitators of God.” He is our model. And how do we know who God is and what we need to imitate? We study and apply God’s Word to our lives.

I’m sure you’ve heard someone say to you, “Just be yourself!” And it sounds really good. But when you look at what it means to imitate God, we are not trying to be ourselves, we’re trying to be more like God. I don’t want to live like I used to live before I knew Christ. Instead, I need to learn how to no longer be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2). I need to be the new creation I’ve become because of Christ in me (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Becoming like Christ doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. You need to submit yourself to the Word of God in personal Bible study, in small group Bible studies, and to the preaching in corporate worship services. You need to give long-term Christians an opportunity to speak into your life; where you willingly receive what they have for you; so you can learn and grow.

As you do this, you will start to look more and more like Jesus in your words and actions. Your responses to life’s adversities will be based in faith, knowing this world is not your home. And people who don’t know Christ, people who will never go to church, will see Jesus in you. Because for some of them, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. So in the power of the Holy Spirit, be Jesus to someone today.

Interested in following along with a past 40 Days for Life devotional?

For more information, visit campusbiblechurch.com/40days

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