I Would Be Like Jesus

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'" Matthew 16:24 (NASB)

The previous posts have looked at discipleship based on Romans 12:1-2. The concepts given there are common throughout the Bible. The above verse gives the same teaching through the words of Jesus Himself. What must a disciple of Jesus do?

First, be not conformed - "he must deny himself." A follower of Jesus does not live to serve himself or to satisfy his own pleasures. Rather than battling for and insisting on the pleasures and comforts of this world, he denies himself those distractions and weights so that he can follow Christ.

Second, give reasonable worship - "take up his cross." The disciple's life is about service to his Savior. A dedicated follower makes himself a slave to Christ, to do whatever labor or whatever service that would exalt and honor God.

Third, be transformed - "follow Me." A disciple has a pattern to follow, and he knows who that pattern is. There is only one Person to follow, to imitate, to fashion his life after. Where the footprints of Jesus go, there goes he.

The hymn "I Would Be Like Jesus," written by James Rowe, aptly expresses the heart-felt desire of a true disciple. Below are the first verse and chorus, which speak of denying the allurements of the world in order to be like the Savior.

Earthly pleasures vainly call me;

I would be like Jesus;
Nothing worldly shall enthrall me;
I would be like Jesus.

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long!
I would be like Jesus.