I Would Be More Like Jesus – Hymn Lyric
“I Would Be More Like Jesus: Embracing the Values and Actions That Reflect His Love and Grace” explores the ideas presented in the hymn, highlighting the importance of being true, faithful, kind, gentle, and loving. It emphasizes the significance of listening, praying, and working diligently to spread joy and goodness. By embodying these virtues, we become catalysts of positive change and reflect Jesus’ love and grace in our daily lives.
Table of Contents
I Would Be More Like Jesus – Hymn Lyric
I would be more like Jesus every day;
I would be true and faithful all the way;
I would know what to sing and what to say,
I would know how to listen, how to pray.
Chorus:
So I’ll watch and I’ll labor and I’ll pray;
By his grace I will follow all the way;
Then with joy I shall meet him, trials o’er,
And with him reign forever, evermore.
I would be kind and gentle, meek and mild;
I would be pure and loving, his dear child;
I would do good to others, as he did;
I would shed joy and sunshine, in him hid. [Chorus]
I would work in his vineyard every day;
Patient, trusting, obedient, come what may;
I would go where he leads me, by his grace,
Till in glory I see him face to face. [Chorus]
Meaning of I Would Be More Like Jesus
To be more like Jesus every day is a beautiful aspiration, isn’t it? Imagine waking up each morning with the goal of embodying the qualities of kindness, faithfulness, and love that Jesus himself displayed during his time on earth. This is what the hymn “I Would Be More Like Jesus” is all abouta heartfelt desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in every aspect of life.
This hymn isn’t just a lovely song; it’s a call to action. It encourages us to strive to be true and faithful no matter what life throws our way. To be more like Jesus means to be reliable and steadfast, someone friends and family can depend on through thick and thin. It’s not always easy, but the hymn reminds us that faithfulness is a virtue worth pursuing.
Knowing what to sing and what to say can be quite a challenge. The world is full of noise, and sometimes we might not be sure how to add our voice to the mix in a way that’s helpful and uplifting. Jesus was a master at thisHe knew when to speak up and when to listen, when to share a parable and when to offer a prayer. The hymn suggests that if we seek to emulate Jesus, we too can learn the right times to sing our songs and share our words.
And speaking of prayer, how to listen and how to pray is a critical part of being like Jesus. Prayer isn’t just about talking to God; it’s also about listening for His guidance. Jesus often went off to quiet places to pray and seek His Father’s will. By following His example, we learn the importance of quieting our hearts to hear what God might be saying to us.
The chorus of the hymn serves as a reminder that this journey is one of active engagement”watch and labor and pray” it says. Watching might mean to be observant of the needs around us, labor refers to the work we do in service of others, and praying keeps us connected to the source of our strength and guidance. By His grace, the hymn reassures us, we can stay committed to this path.
But what does it look like in daily life to be kind, gentle, meek, and mild as the second verse suggests? These aren’t qualities that always get a lot of praise in our busy, competitive world. Yet Jesus showed us the immense strength in gentleness and the power of meekness. To be kind is to offer a smile or a helping hand without expecting anything in return. To be gentle is to approach every situation with a soft and understanding heart. As His dear child, we aim to reflect His pure love in every interaction.
Doing good to others as Jesus did is a simple, yet profound, way of living. Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, and comforted those in sorrow. He didn’t seek out these opportunities for his own gain but because he genuinely cared for others. And when we choose to shed joy and sunshine on those around us, as the verse describes, we’re living out this divine example. The light we share can brighten someone’s darkest day and remind them that they are not alone.
The final verse paints a picture of what it means to work in His vineyard every day. This doesn’t necessarily mean we all need to become gardeners or farmers! The vineyard is a metaphor for the place where God’s work needs to be doneand there’s a lot of that work to be done everywhere! Being patient, trusting, and obedient, even when times get tough, helps us hold on to hope and continue our important work.
Going where he leads us by his grace is about trust. It’s not always clear where our path may lead, and sometimes it may look scary or challenging. But like Jesus, who trusted in God’s plan even when it led him to the cross, we’re called to have faith that we’re being guided in the right direction.
The promise that “in glory I see him face to face” taps into the deep Christian hope of one day being in the presence of Jesus, fully and completely, without any of the barriers of life as we know it. The journey might be filled with trials, but the hymn swells with the joyful anticipation of the reward for faithfulness: reigning with him forever, evermore.
Let’s carry the message of this hymn in our hearts. To be more like Jesus is a lifelong quest, full of challenges and triumphs. It influences how we speak, act, and interact with the world around us. As we watch, labor, and pray, we can walk confidently on our journey, knowing that we are never alone in our efforts, and the love we share along the way makes all the difference, both now and in the eternity that awaits.
I hope this hymn inspired image brings you hope and peace. Share it with someone who needs it today!
