Discipleship

Ephesians 4:17–24
Galatians 5:19–25
John 13:34–35
Psalm 40:1-8

There are several gyms near where I live. 

Often, when I’m sitting in a local café trying to menu-plan, I find myself watching the beautiful people walk past. They’re on their way to or from their exercise classes, wearing designer sneakers and color-coordinated leisure wear.

While I’m not particularly interested in sneakers or leisure wear, I do find myself envying their muscular physiques. They have toned arms, flat stomachs, and seemingly no body fat. They’re lean, strong, and beautiful. 

I wish I had the body of an athlete. Sigh.

While I want the body of an athlete, sadly I’m not willing to live the lifestyle of an athlete.
I want the outcome without the sacrifice.

Ephesians 4:17–24 reminds us that, when we come to know Christ, we put on our new selves, created to be in God’s likeness in righteousness and purity. I want to look like Jesus, but sometimes I don’t want to live the lifestyle of Jesus. I want the outcome without the sacrifice.

Nevertheless, we are called to put our old identity and way of living aside so we can put on our new selves. Did you catch that? We take off the old to make room for the new. We can’t have a mismatched combination of both. How often, though, do we reach for our righteousness when we go to church, yet slide back into old habits of selfishness or pride when we step away from the church door? (Is it just me?)

To look like Jesus, we must daily live the lifestyle of Jesus.
Looking like Jesus is designed to encompass every part of our lives. 

The Bible is clear that we cannot truly call ourselves Christ-followers without changing how we live. Ephesians 4:22 calls us to “Take off your former way of life.” Romans 13:14 says to “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ”. Galatians 5:24 tells us to “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.” Those are strong words!

What does this actually look like in our everyday lives? 

Well, it begins in our minds. Second Corinthians 10:5 reminds us we must “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The reason we must start here is because Jesus showed us  “the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” (Matthew 12:34) Everything begins in our minds and hearts. 

When we have started with our minds, we are then able to reject sinful patterns and attitudes. Colossians 3:8–9 provides a list including anger, slander, and filthy language. Galatians 5:19–21 adds in sexual immorality, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, and anything similar.

I read a list like that and, at first, think I’m off the hook. Those are some big, top-shelf sins. I’m fine; I’m not like that.

But then, I read more carefully. 

I don’t think of myself as guilty of sexual immorality, but what about some of the books I’ve read or shows I’ve watched? I find myself in conversations motivated by jealousy, anger, or selfishness. 
Our world celebrates dissension and factions, and I’ve gotten caught up choosing a side and joining in the fray. While I feel justified (and even holy) in my outrage, this is not a characteristic crafted for a Christ-follower.

Eating junk food and lazing on the couch will never achieve an athlete’s body. Neither will selfishness, jealousy, and anger ever lead to a Christ-like life.

Thankfully, Scripture also makes it clear what the lifestyle of Jesus does actually look like. When the world gets loud and I find myself getting sucked in, two passages shine a light on the right path.

The first is Galatians 5:22–24. Right after the list of things we must remove, comes a list of what to put on! Someone who submits to the Spirit’s power will exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what the lifestyle of Jesus looks like in our everyday lives.

The second passage I find helpful is John 13:34–35 where Jesus told His disciples (you and me!), “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

When in doubt, do what is loving. The lifestyle of Jesus is love.

May we commit to living the lifestyle of Jesus. May we reject jealousy, anger, selfishness, and sexual immorality (and any other sin we struggle with), and put on love. 

This is hard work. It is a life of sacrifice. But it is oh so worth the outcome Jesus promises.
“I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10)

The truth the enemy doesn’t advertise is that sin leads to death, without exception. 

Only Jesus can give us abundant life.

The sacrifice is worth the outcome.

Lord Jesus,
I want my life to look like You; make me hungry for righteousness. Remind me each day that the outcome of looking like Jesus is worth the sacrifice of my sinful nature. Fill me with kindness and compassion, forgiveness and love, that the world may know that I am Your disciple.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.