How do we become more like Christ? By beholding him.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 CO 3.18).
“In what way do we behold his glory? … It’s the gospel that reveals Christ’s glory. Therefore, to behold his glory we must gaze into the gospel by faith. As we do this, the Spirit will transform us more and more into his likeness.” —Jerry Bridges, Bob Bevington, Bookends for the Christian Life
We become like the One we behold in the Word. As we see him stretch out his hand in compassion to heal a leper, we see how we should be compassionate. When we see Jesus have mercy on the woman caught in adultery, we grow in mercy. As we observe Jesus resist the temptations of Satan to love the world, we learn to love the Lord our God as he did. As we gaze on Jesus hanging on the cross, and not revile his enemies but say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” we learn to trust our heavenly father and forgive our enemies.
As we see Jesus submit to his Father’s will—“Not my will be done, but yours”—we learn to submit our wills to the Father’s will. As we see Jesus caring for his mother while he hangs on the cross, we to learn to honor our parents and care for them. And as we gaze upon Jesus enduring all things because of his love for us, we to learn to endure the sins and failures of others out of love for them.
As we see Jesus empty himself and make himself poor that he might make us rich, we in turn learn to empty ourselves and lay down our lives for others. As we watch Jesus welcome little children, we too learn how important children are to Jesus.
