Friendships are valuable in our lives as we grow and mature as adults. As soon as we are sent to school, we become people watchers and observers of others’ behaviors.  We begin to learn what is good along with what is bad to think with how to behave from watching the consequences of the actions of others.  For example, we learn quickly that we will be reprimanded if we talk while the teacher is explaining the lesson.  We learn that pushing and shoving will result in being pushed and shoved back.  We learn that calling people bad names on the playground will lead to retribution or time out from play from the teacher.  But we also learn that there are those who seem to know how to stay out of trouble.  Who will we follow and imitate?  Will we be a bully or a bestie?

As we progress in our growth as individuals, we discover that we become like those we spend the most time with each day. We begin to talk the same language.  We call each other by nicknames known only to our gang.  We become so much alike that we dress alike, develop the same body language, and we even begin to finish each other’s sentences!  We think alike.  We know each other so well, that all it takes is a “look” to know what the other person is thinking in any given situation.  

Peter knows human interactions and how they affect our lives.  His advice to think like Jesus is valuable to Life with Jesus.  He not only tells us we should but he tells us how to think like the One who loves us most and wants the best for us.  We have a choice to believe, follow and learn to think like the One who through suffering willingly laid down His life for us so we could be saved for Life eternal—or not.  Who will we follow and imitate? 

1 Peter 4, The Message

Learn to Think Like Him

^1-2 Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.

^3-5 You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.

⁶ Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus.

^7-11 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

Glory Just Around the Corner

^12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

^14-16 If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!

^17-19 It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message!

If good people barely make it,
What’s in store for the bad?

So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn to think and act like people we spend the most time with—who is that? 

So, who impresses us the most as one to imitate?

Who do we think about most?

Who or what do we spend most of our energy trying to please to satisfy our own desires? 

These are questions we must ask daily as a beginning to learning to think like Jesus the One who loves us best!  “This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner,” Peter tells us.  We cannot do by ourselves; we need Him every hour of every day in the process to become like Him.  To God be the glory!

We learn from God’s Word, as told by those who gave up everything to follow Him, that Jesus spent a great deal of time alone with God in conversation and communion.  Jesus did what the Father told him to do because of their relationship.  Jesus said what God wanted Him to say.  Jesus observed what God did and did the same.  Jesus put aside what He wanted for what God wanted—to save us from our sins so that we, too could be in a relationship with Him!  Jesus gave us the example of how to imitate His relationship with God!  Jesus saved us so we can have this relationship!  He did what we could not—remove our sins forever making the way clear to God’s throne!  (See Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Later, Paul, dramatically changed by Jesus from an arrogant religious law keeper who aggressively bullied new believers to a committed relationship with Jesus himself writes;

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”  (Read the whole story in Philippians 2!)

The point is, to think like Jesus we must spend time with Jesus in relationship to become more like Him.  We will then begin to walk and talk like Him.  How? 

• Call to God in Jesus Name and He will bend down to listen.  Tell Him everything and wait for God to speak to us.  Take all the time needed to be still, let go, and listen.  Commune with God in every day conversations.
• Go to the Word because Jesus is the Word, the walking around, talking Word made flesh who move into the neighborhood of humanity to teach us how to think with Kingdom of God thinking that leads to Kingdom of God behaving. 

Jesus is our supreme example of the characteristics of God.  Jesus demonstrates with the love of God with His life and portrays wisdom—skills for living—throughout His life.  God also gave us the gift of His Holy Spirit’s power to help us imitate Jesus!

Paul gives us a general list of these developing character traits in Galatians 5;

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23, NIV 

In other words, we don’t need a law to be kind and loving!  Think more like Jesus in every way!  In thinking and becoming more like Christ, we find these Godly traits begin to bear “fruit” in our behaviors!  It is these very traits that draw people to us so that we can then point to the Way to God so others can know Him, too!  To God be the glory!

As we yield and surrender ourselves to God, and have the same attitude toward sin that Jesus had, we can overcome the old life, by His power living in us, to now live the new life as fully committed believers and imitators of Jesus!

Kingdom of God thinking produces a different kind of lifestyle. Much of what goes on in the world depends on lies, pride, pleasure, and the desire to get more. Dedicated believers in Jesus with a desire to be like Him build their lives on truth, humility, holiness, and the desire to glorify God. 

“Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.”—Peter

Lord,

Thank you for saving our souls and cleansing our hearts daily.  Thank you for showing us how to be more like you as we seek to please You in all we think, say, and do.  I want to be like you when I grow up!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!