Becoming Like Jesus: What Difference Do I Make?Sample

The Spirit has invited you to testify.

In His conversation with the disciples about the kind of relationship we are invited into and the meaningful life that comes from our intimate connection with God, Jesus reminds us that we have a Helper and an assignment.

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.” John 15:26-26 NLT

Jesus tells His disciples, and tells us, that we must testify about Him. What does it mean to testify about Jesus though? To testify means giving evidence that something is true. So, testifying about Jesus means giving evidence that Jesus really is the Son of God and that He really did rise from the dead. How do we do that? What evidence are we supposed to give?

Well, just two chapters earlier, Jesus told us the evidence that would prove we are His disciples:

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT

And then, two chapters after this, Jesus, while praying to His Father, shows us the evidence that will prove to the world that Jesus is the Son of God:

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:21-23 NLT

Did you pick up on what Jesus was telling us? In John 13, He told us that our love for each other would be the evidence we give to show the world that we are His. In John 17:21, He seems to be saying that when we remain in Him and the Father, then the world will believe He is the Son of God. And then, in verse 23, Jesus tells us that our unity will show the world that the Son was sent by the Father, and that the Father loves them just as much as He loves the Son.

Love one another. Remain in Him. Live in unity.

This is how we testify about Jesus and show the world the truth of who He is and what He came to do.

And the good news is that we don’t have to do this alone. When Jesus tells us to testify about Him, He’s really just inviting us to join in on what the Holy Spirit is already doing. You are a temple of the living God and you have been given the power to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. A life that provides evidence of the goodness, patience, and faithfulness of God and the truth of the Gospel—the good news that God’s kingdom is coming on earth as it is in heaven and everyone is invited in.

So, where do we start? How can we partner with the Holy Spirit in testifying about Jesus and His coming Kingdom? Become a person of prayer.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:26-29 NLT

Don’t know where to start when it comes to prayer? Good news: The Holy Spirit helps us! He prays with us and for us, teaching us to align our desires with God’s desires for His creation. And what is God’s desire? Our good. God longs for His creation to experience His goodness in any and every place that sin has corrupted. He wants us to become like His son, Jesus, and help Him usher in New Creation.

From the very beginning of the Biblical story, there has been a calling on your life. A difference you were made to make.

You were created to work with the God who made you. You were made to worship your Redeemer. You were called to serve like your good and humble King. You were invited to trust in the heavenly Father. You were given new life to remain in the Son. And, in the power of the Holy Spirit, you have been chosen to testify about what God has done, what He is doing, and what He will do through Jesus.

Pray:Heavenly Father, thank you for making me to make a difference. Thank you for the purpose and calling you have given me. Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me into your kingdom and fixing my relationship with God. Holy Spirit, I want to partner with you in testifying about Jesus. Help me become a person of prayer, and in the process, align my desires with your good desires for your creation. I trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.