Devotional
Most Christians genuinely want to be like Jesus. We admire His compassion, His wisdom, His love for others. We read about His character and think, “Yes, that’s who I want to be.” So why is transformation so difficult? The challenge isn’t our desire to become like Christ – it’s our reluctance to let go of ourselves. We want to add Jesus to our lives like an accessory, a nice addition to who we already are. We want Jesus to enhance us, not transform us. Think about it this way: imagine trying to put on a beautiful new outfit while refusing to take off your old, dirty clothes. You’d end up looking ridiculous, with the new clothes unable to fit properly or look right. That’s what we do spiritually when we try to add Jesus to our old selves without allowing Him to transform us completely. We love ourselves – our opinions, our ways of doing things, our comfort zones. Even when these things hurt us or others, we cling to them because they’re familiar. We’d rather accessorize our old nature with a little bit of Jesus than allow Him to completely remake us. But here’s the beautiful truth: Jesus doesn’t want to be your accessory. He wants to be your life. He doesn’t want to improve your old self; He wants to give you a completely new identity. This requires letting go, and that’s never easy – but it’s always worth it.
Bible Verse
“If anyone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharist; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” – Philippians 3:4-6
Reflection Question
What aspects of your ‘old self’ are you most reluctant to surrender to Christ, and why do you think you hold onto them so tightly?
Quote
“It’s hard not because we don’t want to be like Jesus, but because we don’t want to get rid of ourselves.” -Pastor Jerry Madden
Prayer
Father, I confess that I often want to keep parts of my old self while adding You to my life. Help me to surrender completely, trusting that Your transformation is better than my self-improvement. Give me the courage to let go. Amen.