How Can We Become More Like Jesus?

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Eugene Peterson pastored a small church in Maryland. No fog machines or stage lights, just a shepherd quietly loving his people and staying faithful to God's Word.

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He believed Christ-likeness grows in the ordinary. Everyday moments like hospital visits, kitchen table conversations, and a Bible open on a worn-out desk.

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To help his congregation really hear Galatians, he began paraphrasing it into everyday language for a midweek Bible study. He did it line by line and phrase by phrase, and then the pages started to pile up. He had no plans for a bestseller.

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It was just a pastor trying to make Jesus clear to his people.

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Would that slow and unglamorous faithfulness really change anyone, starting with him?

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Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I am Bart Leger. We all want to grow in our faith and become more like Jesus. But sometimes, we imagine that growth happens through big mountaintop experiences like revivals or retreats. The truth?

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Christ-like growth happens slowly through daily rhythms of grace. Just ordinary obedience.

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Small steps that add up to a life that looks like Jesus. That slow, methodical commitment did change him and others. Those paraphrased notes eventually became the message, a version of scripture that's helped millions hear God's word with fresh ears.

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But long before the pages ever made it to print, God was forming something deeper in Eugene. Patience and a quiet humility. A long obedience in the same direction. He prayed the Psalms. He honored the Sabbath. He served without fanfare. And in that rhythm, but He was so happy that he became more like Christ. Romans 8.29 says, For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son. And 2 Corinthians 3.18 adds, The Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

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Becoming more like Jesus isn't about perfection. Because let's face it, none of us will even come close to perfection this side of heaven. It's about a process. Every time you forgive when it's hard, when you serve when it's inconvenient, or when you pray, when you'd rather scroll, you're being shaped. The Spirit is at work in the ordinary moments of your life.

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He's sanding down your pride, and He's deepening your compassion. And whether you realize it or not, He's forming Christ's heart in you. If you want to become more like Jesus, don't chase spiritual fireworks.

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Just stay faithful in the small things. The Christian life is not a sprint. It's a marathon.

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Read God's Word to be changed, not just informed. Maybe pray a psalm a day. Serve quietly where no one sees. The growth isn't instant, but it's inevitable when your life is open to God's shaping hand. Here's today's challenge. Pick one small habit this week that helps you stay close to Jesus. Maybe five minutes in Scripture each morning or praying before you grab your phone. Write it down and ask the Lord to use that rhythm to form His likeness in you. Remember, you don't have to do everything. Just take one faithful step today. Lord Jesus, thank you for choosing us to become like you. Teach us to slow down and to listen and to trust your shaping work in our lives. Change us, not in a hurry, but in your holiness. Help us to live with steady obedience one day at a time. In your name we pray. Amen. Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. Remember, spiritual growth is a journey, not a sprint. Let Jesus shape you one faithful step at a time. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.