2 Major Ways We Grow to Resemble Jesus

To resemble Jesus is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life.

But if we miss this, we miss the purest meaning for CHRISTian. A little christ.

My granddaugher, Laney, loves all things princess. She has princess dresses and dolls. And Laney sings Disney princess songs, knowing every lyric. Even to watch Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast with me is pure joy for her. My husband calls her little princess.

Many of her birthday parties have carried a princess theme. But this past July, her theme for her 7th birthday was Jesus and Barbie (so cute and sweet). Because in May, Laney FaceTimed me that she had accepted Jesus into her heart. We were overjoyed.

She has her own Bible and a girls devotional. Her parents are worship leaders at church and both Laney and her brother, Foster, know lyrics to many worship and Christain songs.

Oh, she still loves all things princess. But Laney loves Jesus, too. I pray as she grows, she also grows more and more to resemble Jesus, to become a little christ as much as she likes to be a little princess.

To resemble Jesus is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life. But if we miss this, we miss the purest meaning for CHRISTian. A little christ. Share on X

So let’s look at these 2 major ways we grow to resemble Christ.

(1.) We resemble Jesus as we grow in the aspects of Christ and His likeness.

We are each uniquely formed in the womb. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t create cookie-cutter people? I’m a twin but we are still each unique.

And we are created in the image of God. But our new life in Christ is about growing in His likeness.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 

The key to growing more each day like Jesus is staying close to Him—knowing Him, being in His presence. We let Him permeate every area of our lives.

The key to growing more each day like Jesus is staying close to Him—knowing Him, being in His presence. We let Him permeate every area of our lives. Share on X

What are some notable aspects of Jesus?

The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

Also, grace, truth, one with the Father, prayer, and righteousness.

And this is a picture of Jesus. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 (ESV) 

(2.) We resemble Jesus when we passionately seek God and hear His voice.

Like Jesus, we seek after God. We hear God’s voice when we are in close communion with Him through prayer, His Word, worship, and the Holy Spirit.

How would our lives change if we heard God’s voice stronger and louder than anything else, and we only acted after receiving His direction?

We practice listening prayer. So we ask, “Lord, what do you say?” And we really listen and expect His answer. We quit doing all the talking during prayer. Because it helps us lay down our agenda to pick up God’s will. 

God’s Word transforms our hearts and minds. It encourages us to set our mind on things above, how we have the mind of Christ, and “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

And we quit limping between the world’s opinions and God’s Word! Our heart needs truth that’s only found in the Bible in how we live, love, and worship.

We quit limping between the world’s opinions and God’s Word! Our heart needs truth that’s only found in the Bible in how we live, love, and worship. Share on X

Worship and the Holy Spirit

Worship is not only singing at church, but also a daily surrender to the Lord. It’s walking in the Spirit, repenting of sin, seeking God’s face—our lives are to be a spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1-2 describes the surrendered life. We are not to conform to this world, but to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. 

But it’s hard to be a living sacrifice when I keep crawling off the altar. Being more of the world than in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit brings about the internal transformation we need. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we hope to resemble Jesus.

Featured photos courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.

Last week’s article: There’s Nothing Better Than Jesus.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups: Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).

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© 2025 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved