More Like Jesus, Less Like Me

A book and a song reveal the becoming of a Christian life.

Every believer knows the ache of spiritual growth—those moments when our words falter, our actions fall short, and we get a glimpse of how far we still have to go. In one of my favorite Christian songs, Less Like Me, Zach Williams sings: "Oh, I have days I lose the fight, try my best but just don't get it right." We can relate because we've all wrestled with who we are and who we long to become. In one of my favorite books, Pleasing God, R.C. Sproul reminds us that this process is a journey of being made holy, set apart for God.

I call this process of wrestling and longing sanctification. Others may call it formation, or simply spiritual growth. No matter what we call it, this journey remains deeply personal and unique to each believer. Regardless of the term, the goal remains the same: becoming more like Christ through the Spirit’s transforming work. The Holy Spirit longs to shape us into the image of Christ.

The Whispers of Doubt and Complacency

Paul’s call in Romans 12:1-2 gets to the heart of sanctification: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God... Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." The journey resumes each day with giving up our way to find and pursue God's perfect way.

But following the Holy Spirit’s leading isn’t always easy. Sometimes doubt whispers, “You’ll never change,” while complacency lures us to accept our spiritual status quo. That is why sanctification takes both courage and confession. Zach Williams’ lyrics in “Less like me,” offers a powerful example of how we need to confess in order to surrender anew every day to the work of the Holy Spirit.