Category: Jesus Character

God wants His people to become like Christ. Christlikeness is the will of God for the people of God. . . . If we claim to be a Christian, we must be Christlike.

John Stott

Jesus Rose from the Table

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” — John 13:15

Jesus rose —
He rose from the tomb,
victor over death;
He rose from the table,
example for our lives.

Stripping down to servants’ garb,
the Lord of All Creation
humbly rose from dinner
to do the good
that needed done.

With followers quarreling
over which of them was best,
God Himself washed
dust and dung off
dirty disciple feet.

Returning to the table,
the King serving servants said:
“Now you should do
as I have done;
love and serve each other.”

Servant soles Kingly washed,
insteps free of past roads’ filth,
we learn:
“How happy you will be
if you do as I have done.”

Devotional poem © 2016 Michael Himick. Used with permission.

Into the Sunlight

We’ve been looking at Hebrews 12:1-2, and seeing that we must fix our eyes on Jesus. Here’s a devotional poem from Christ-following commuter Kim Adornetto seeing the same. It’s called “Into the Sunlight.”

I feel like I’m always heading
into the sunlight.
Mornings, I drive due east
to get to work.
Evenings, I travel west
to get back home.

Sometimes,
I love the warmth
of the sun on my face.
It makes me feel
happy and blessed.
Other times,
it is painfully blinding.
I can hardly see
the road in front of me,
and the traffic signals
are hard to read.
But I have to keep going
to get to where I belong.

I often think about
the scripture that mentions
“unapproachable light,”
and I am reminded of you, Lord.
Even when I don’t understand,
even when I can’t see clearly,
I have to keep going —
toward where I need to be,
toward where I belong,
toward you.

My car is old and outdated.
It’s been wrecked and
repaired many times.
The bumper is held on
with Liquid Nails.
It reminds me of me.
But it’s still running.
I’m still running —
toward where I need to be,
toward where I belong,
toward you.

Devotional poem © 2016 Kim Adornetto. Used with permission.

The only aim that it is worthy of a man to live for, as his supreme and dominant one, is that he shall be completely molded in character, disposition, nature, heart, and will into the likeness of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God.

Alexander MacLaren

The Greek word in Hebrews 12:2 often translated “fixing our eyes” literally means “to look away from all else at” Jesus.

From G. Abbott-Smith’s “A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament”