I Want to Be Like You

I really like listening to old CDs lately. It's comforting to know that, on a much lesser scale, some songs are like scripture in that they can mean something completely different depending on where in life you are. As I listened to some old songs and CDs cleaning this afternoon, I came across this great song from FFH's first CD.

When I'm down, You are up for me.
When I frown, You have a smile for me.
And when I'm weak, You are strong for me,
You are there for me, You're always there for me.

When I fall, You will catch me.
When I call, You're quick to answer me.
And when I weep, You will weep with me,
You are there for me, You're always there for me.

(And I want to be like You) Take my cross and follow after You,
(I want to be like You) Speak the truth in everything I do.
(I want to be like You) Leave the many to go and find the few.
(I want to be like You) I want to be like You.

When I thirst, You will quench me.
When I hunger, You are the bread for me.
When I kneel, you already heard me,
You are there for me, You're always there for me.

When I cried, You were there, You heard my call.
When I fell, You were there, You saw it all.
On my knees, You came and rescued me,
And now in everything I say and do I want to be just like You.

I've realized something lately. I really want to be like Jesus. I'm tired of wrestling with what I want, what I think I need, what I feel. The fact is, I'm not any good at supplying for myself. I'm not any good at truly meeting others' needs or ministering to them, because the only thing in me that's any good is Jesus. And I don't let Him have control like I should. Why? Because I'm selfish, I'm ungodly, and most of all, I'm a sinner in desperate need of a Savior.

So why do I want to be more like Jesus? Because I've seen me, and I'm not impressed. In all of my life, I am the one who gets in the way of His guidance, who takes the wrong path, who defiantly stands in the way of my own blessing... because like Frank Sinatra, I did it "My Way." Know what? I'm tired of that. I've never done anything for myself that held a candle to the lighthouse beam of God's plan for my life. I've done nothing more than screw it up, and I'm likely to do it more. So, I want to be more like Jesus. I want to reach out instead of in. I want to lift up instead of tear down. I want to be a shield to the soldiers around me, rather than a sword to the saints on my side. I want to be holy, as He is holy.

I can't say it any better than this lyric from another great old song: "Heart's Cry," by Steven Curtis Chapman.

This is my heart's cry, much more than just a great desire,
It's like a fire in me.
I hear my heart cry each time I think about the cross where Jesus died:
That cross should have been mine,
But His love broke through time and heard my heart's cry.
He heard my heart's cry.

And now the part I'll struggle with until I attain that which I strive for:

Now every other hope and dream is lost inside of this one thing,
To know the One who died for me.
And live my life for Jesus Christ is my heart's cry!

What about you?