God’s Call, God’s Ways Becoming Like Him – Going/Doing
Speaker: Steve Little (Pastor)
Date: February 15, 2026
Our Series: God’s Call, God’s Ways
In this series we have looked in to the scriptures and have seen Jesus calling people to ‘Follow Me’ and how do they do this it is by ‘Faith’. Follow Me, by faith.
But it won’t be long after we start following Him that we see that we are challenged with these two thoughts through the scriptures:
Becoming Like Him – Going/Doing
Right now, we are focusing on, ‘Becoming Like Him’
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…
But what does following Jesus and being conformed to His image look like in our life. Well, let’s look at one aspect, servant. Listen to this verse. Jeus just finishes washing the disciple’s feet, an act that was usually done by someone who probably did not want to do it, a lowly job, and then He says this:
John 13:13-15 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Remember in the beginning God created mankind to be in His image and likeness.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Definitions from the Hebrew language:
Image – tselem: Physical form of ‘God's representative on earth.’
Likeness – demut: Resemblance or similarity in character
Some likenesses from the Beginning Still True Today
· Dominion – God has dominion over all we can see, all things visible and over all things not yet seen, over all the universe and more. But God gave mankind dominion over the earth, plants and animals. still true today. What He did not list was people having dominion over other people, which seems to be a great focus of mankind.
· Creativity – God created and after He was done, He said to man tend the land and name the animals. What a way to have mankind to start being creative. This is still true today.
· Ability to make choices – God did not make us robots. He made in a way that we would have to make choices. The first couple was given the ability to make choices. Believe and trust God or make another choice. It is still true today. We all have a choice to believe God’s words or not.
As we look at this scripture we see a challenge: Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Imitators – we get our English word mime/mimic. But the definition really comes down to being:
Similar in Character
Dallas Willard taught this: Having one’s inner life, attitudes, and outward actions increasingly shaped to reflect the characteristics of the way of Jesus.
Today’s Scripture Reading
Matthew 6:9 Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Dependent and Set Apart
Dependent: “Our Father”
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. Yes, and He will show Him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
— John 5:19-20
Philippians 4:6-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
• Before major decisions (Luke 6:12-13)
• In times of sorrow (Matthew 14:13)
• Early in the morning (Mark 1:35)
• Before the cross (John 17)
Jesus was dependent upon His relationship with His Father; it was part of His character.
Set Apart “Hallowed be Your name”
Hallowed (hagiazo) means to set apart as holy, sanctify, purify or treat with reverence.
Old Testament word for Holy is qadosh and it means to set apart, utterly unique, held sacred.
Leviticus19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them,….. I the Lord your God
am holy.
The scriptures show us that God Himself said I am set apart, utterly unique from every other God that there is. When people came in to contact with Him, He showed Himself and they saw Him separate, unique and sacred. Moses at the burning bush Exodus 3, children of Israel at Mount Sinai starting at Exodus 19, Isaiah’s reaction in the presence in Isaiah 6 and Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17.
Spoiler Alert!!!!!!!!!! It was not only God that would be holy but also His people.
Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, you shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
And just when you think you might be off the hook say, ‘Well that is Old Testament, I am a New Testament believe. We read:
Second Spoiler Alert!!!!!!!!!!
1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”
Throughout the New Testament we see this word holy given also the name sanctification. Meaning the same thing: set-apart, unique and sacred.
John 10:36-37 “…do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me “
John 17:16-19 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“Holiness, as taught in the Scriptures, is not based upon knowledge on our part. Rather, it is based upon the resurrected Christ in-dwelling us and changing us into His likeness.”
― A.W. Tozer
Practical Application:
• Remember this is not a onetime thing we are transformed to His image over time
• Turn to God when you fall. When you see that your behavior is not looking like Jesus’ go to Him, confess and depend on His grace and love, while looking for change in your life.
• Make a choice to have a heart that is toward God
This week – How about starting your prayer time with….
“Father, hallowed be Your name in my life today. Lead me and help me to be like Jesus.”
