How Can We Grow Closer To God in 2025? (Part 4)
Follow Jesus' Example.
We are engaged in a study on how we can grow closer to God in 2025.
So far, we have noticed that we can be successful if we will spend more time in God’s Word, in prayer, and in associating with godly people.
As we come to Pt. 4, we want to examine the perfect example of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Invites Us to “Learn of Me.”
On one occasion, Jesus extended a beautiful invitation:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
Embedded in this invitation is the phrase, “learn of Me.” If we want to draw closer to God, we must learn the ways of God’s Son (John 1:1-5, 14; 6:44-45).
Jesus points us to Heaven (John 14:6-9) and blazed the trail we need to follow.
The Command to Follow Jesus.
The apostle Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). The apostle Peter stated that Christians are to “follow in Jesus’ steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). The apostle John pointed out that Christians are to walk in the light as He is in the light and that if we abide in Christ, we “ought also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 1:7; 2:6).
We are to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5) and strive to be more like Him everyday.
By doing this, we will undoubtedly be drawing closer to God!
Be a “Disciple” of Jesus Christ.
The word “disciple” appears 275x in Scripture. According to Baker’s Bible Dictionary, a disciple is “someone who follows another person or another way of life and who submits himself to the discipline (teaching) of that leader or way” (Helm).
Christians are disciples (Acts 11:26) and thus he or she must strive to follow and submit to Christ. A Christian’s responsibility is to not only be a faithful disciple but to go and “make disciples” (Matt. 28:19).
Fulfilling this responsibility, a child of God will be more like Jesus Who came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Being a disciple draws one closer to God because the mindset, the motivation, and the method used to carry out the mission all comes from God! His Word clearly teaches us to be like Jesus Who loved all people, spoke truth, and glorified His Father by His actions.
How can we be more like Christ and thus draw closer to God?
By Showing Compassion.
First, we can follow in Jesus steps’ by showing compassion to others. Jesus genuinely cared about everyone and went out of His way to help those in need.
One of the most well-known parables Jesus ever taught was the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). A man was traveling and was violently robbed. A Priest passed by on the other side as well as a Levite. These two should have been helpful, but were not “practicing what they were preaching.” The man who actually helped was a Samaritan.
John teaches us that the “Jews had no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9) which makes this parable even more amazing to consider. The Samaritan “went the extra mile” helping this man by bandaging his wounds, putting him on his own animal, taking him to an inn, and paying for any further treatment he needed.
Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
By Suffering Properly.
Second, we can follow in Jesus steps’ by suffering properly.
Even when we are innocent, we can still expect to suffer (2 Tim. 3:12). How we respond to suffering reveals our spiritual maturity.
Jesus suffered wrong for doing right, but chose to take the “high road.” A study of 1 Peter will clearly show how Jesus did it and why we should do the same in order to draw closer to God (1 Pet. 1:3-9; 2:21-24; 3:13-22; 4:12-19; 5:1-11).
By Showing Others the Father.
Third and finally, we can follow in Jesus steps’ by showing others the Father.
In a very real sense, Jesus showed the Father to the world (John 1:18; 14:9). Today, we can point people to the Father by reflecting the light and love of Jesus. Jesus said to His followers,
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:13-16).
May we all strive to be more like Jesus by showing compassion, suffering properly, and showing others the Father by the way we live from day to day.
Our attitudes and actions need to reflect the life of Jesus Christ. By doing this, we will be able to draw closer to God.
Next week, we will close out our study by examining the importance of doing the work God has given us to do!
References.
Helm, Paul. “Disciple,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 629.
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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