Some of the questions often asked by believers are, “What should I do?” or “How should I be behaving?” or “How do I know God’s will for my life?” Although the answers to the questions are not unimportant at all, there is a much more fundamental question we should be asking ourselves, “What should I be like?”
The Apostle Paul makes a clear and bold statement in the New Testament book of Philippians that forthrightly speaks to his priorities. In part, it says: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to become like Him.
If we seek to be like Christ, the answers to many of the “What should we do” and the “How do I know God’s will” type questions will fall into place. How does one do that? Reading His Word, the Bible. Becoming involved (not just attending) a Bible teaching church. Being around like-minded people. And in part, simply behaving more Christ-like.
It is said that feelings follow behavior. It is true that the shy, introverted individual who doesn’t want to attend a party, when they go to that party and act friendly and outward, find that they’ve truly enjoyed themselves. Approaching a dreaded task with positive enthusiasm instead of whining complaint can make it pass much more easily.
Likewise, if we behave more Christ-like in terms of what we read, see, talk about, and the people we hang with, we often find ourselves drawn closer to the Lord and become more tender towards spiritual matters. We, too, can then grow to know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and become more like him. And the rest will tend to fall into place.
