Oh, to Be Like Thee

1. Read: Ephesians 5:1 – “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

2. About the Text:

1) The song “Oh, to Be Like Thee” was written by T.O. Chisholm in 1897.

2) He also wrote, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “Living for Jesus.”

3) He said that there were no dramatic stories behind his songs.

4) The sentiments of this song are lofty.

5) It should be every Christians goal to be like Christ.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Oh, to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer: This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.”

2. Consider Jesus sacrificial love.

1) “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:9-11).

2) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

3. We are to be living sacrifices.

1) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

2) “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

4. Would we forfeit all of earth’s treasure to be like Christ?

1. “Oh, to be like Thee! Full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind, Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.”

2. Consider Jesus’ behavior toward others.

1) “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5).

2) “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

3) “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

3. We must behave like Jesus.

1) “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

2) “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:16-17).

4. Are we loving, forgiving, kind, helpful, seeking?

1. “Oh, to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming, Now to receive th’anointing divine; All that I am and have I am bringing; Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.”

2. Jesus was faithful in everything that he did.

1) “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

2) “And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:5-6).

3. We must be faithful to him.

1) “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38).

2) “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Hebrews 6:9).

4. Are we completely committed to Christ?

1. What a great song that challenges us to be more like Christ!

2. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

3. Oh that we would be more like Christ!

1) Sacrifice like Christ

2) Behave like Christ

3) Commit like Christ

4. Invitation