“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done…” (John 13:15)
How are Christians to demonstrate Christ-likeness? Christ said in John 15:5, 8: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” Christ not only came into the world to purchase salvation for believers through His death and resurrection; He also came to give an example that believers might follow in His steps. As believers and His children, we are to walk in a way worthy of His name and nature. And what He commands us to do, He shows us by example: “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you,” (John 13:15).
“But,” you might object, “Christ is perfect, and we are not. He is sinless deity and perfect humanity who lived blameless before God and man. We, on the other hand, are incapable of sinless perfection because we retain our sinful nature. So how can we ever imitate Christ, our pattern for all things godly and holy?”
Christ answers this question plainly in John 15:5, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Just like a branch that gets broken off the apple tree cannot bear apples on its own, “apart” from our source, who is Christ, neither can we bear the spiritual fruit of Christlikeness that glorifies God. So, as Andrew Gray asked, “do you see Christ as your Pattern or just merely a Prize?” Let the life of Christ always be before your eyes (Heb. 12:2). Learn of Christ in the way He walked. Christ is the glorious God of the Ages, who provides a pattern for those who claim allegiance to Him, to live humbly before God. If you are His tree, you can be seen by your fruit, for as He taught, a tree can be seen by its fruit. What is your fruit like?
The secret to imitating Christ is relying on our spiritual life source – Christ Himself – where He produces the fruit of the Spirit through us. Evidencing fruit that clearly demonstrates who we belong to is the natural result of “abiding in Him” … staying connected to our spiritual life source. And for those who evidence the fruit of holiness and godliness here on earth by imitating Christ have in heaven “everlasting life,” (Romans 6:22).
If you desire to adore God and to imitate Christ, then you must abide in Him. Let His words abide in you. And “you will bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
1. Lord, how do I personally imitate You and follow Your example? Help me see where I demonstrate Your likeness and where I do not. I know I consistently fall short of following Your example. This is overwhelming because, as Your child, I want to be like You and bear fruit worthy of Your name. Though I know I can’t do this perfectly, I need Your help in learning how to do it more consistently.
2. Your Spirit uses the light of Your Word to teach me how I should live, but I still struggle every day with sin of one sort or another. I know You are not only my God, You are also my Example. So how does Your Spirit work in me to grow my desire to be like You? Help me live and walk in Your light that I may be a faithful reflection of Your glorious image.
3. Thank You, Father, for Christ, my example, my Savior – the One who, even before creation, was given to be a sacrifice for my sins, and the One who opens my eyes to show me who You are and what you have done to save me. Show me the sins in my life that keep me from following His perfect example. Teach me to rely on You for everything, especially how to walk before You. Help me live before You as Your Son did. And make me more holy that I might be more like Him.
4. Lord, I know the Apostle James said I must cleanse my hands and purify my heart before I can enter Your presence (James 4:8). And I can’t follow Your perfect example with known sin in my life. This is not as mysterious as I try to make it out to be; I simply cannot tolerate sin and walk as You walked at the same time. Unless I come clean before You, my sin will keep me from abiding in You and bearing fruit that shows I belong to You. Show me now the ugliness, the filth, the sin that separates me from You, and wash me clean by Your blood, my Lord and Savior. Remind me of this continually, Lord. Keep it in my heart.
5. Am I relying on myself rather than relying on You, Lord? You see everything I do. I want to live a life which is holy and righteous so that I might please Christ. I cannot do this on my own, and so I need Your Spirit to help me. Lord Jesus, send me more of the work of the Spirit in my life as I pray and study Your Word that I might be refreshed and strengthened to serve You. Help me have a more productive quiet time that I might be guided according to Your Word, and bear the Spirit’s fruit in my life. Help me live in a way that honors Christ so that You are not ashamed to be called my God.
Further References for John 13:15
Isa. 43:1; 1 Cor. 6:20; Romans 12:1, 15:5; Eph. 5:2.
