“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” — 1 John 2:5-6
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The Bible tells us, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). Some translations say “must walk as Jesus did.” Walking the walk, and not just talking the talk, comes down to obedience to God’s Word. That’s what it takes, but it goes much deeper than that.
To transform your body is to transform your game. To experience this transformation, you must be obedient to the grueling process that changes the way you live, eat, work out, practice and play. We gladly embrace this process because we know if we submit daily to the sacrifice and pain, it will revolutionize our performance and our lives in many ways.
Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” God’s goal for us is spiritual growth and maturity that brings us closer to Christlikeness. He wants all Christians to live as Jesus did because He wants us to become like Christ, impacting the world around us like Jesus did. Among other things, Jesus brought truth, hope, encouragement and, most importantly, the offer of salvation into the lives of everyone He encountered.
Just like any transformative process, it doesn’t happen just because you want it to — it must be intentional. First Timothy 4:7 tells us to “train yourself to be godly.” “Godliness” is a proper attitude and response toward God, and “train” is an athletic term for discipline. Think of the rigorous, self-sacrificing training an athlete undergoes. Spiritual self-discipline is the path to Godly living.
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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