John 10:10 (MSB), “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
Hello Friends. After reading my last blog post you might be wondering more about how your life can be better. Throughout this month I will be posting updates on this theme: Better is Possible.
Friend, if I were to ask you what better looks like what would you say? In order for us to move forward with this concept of better we must have a vision or idea of what better looks like.
Take a moment to think about this.
Does better look like:
More/better belongings
Better family relationships
A better job
A better car
A better house
Etc.
I would say that better looks like Jesus and better in my life is being more Christ like myself.
Psalm 17:15 says, “I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Friend, THIS is the highest BETTER you can seek to achieve: TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS CHRIST, THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD.
I know, I know, this seems like a daunting task; becoming like Jesus, the only perfect person to ever walk this earth is no easy feat after all. But let me assure you that you do not have to go through this transformation alone. In fact, it is impossible for you to do this by yourself.
This process is a long process of living transformation, meaning that you must be involved and the Holy Spirit must be involved. This does not happen if you sit passively twiddling your thumbs and wishing for change. You must be actively involved, seeking, learning, and changing at every turn.
My question for you, friend, is are you being changed? Are you being transformed into the likeness of Christ every day?
The Message Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:18, “So we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives GRADUALLY becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.”
How you may ask yourself, do we begin this transformation. Well, here are a few of the steps as I see them in this transformation process.
The first part of this transformation happens when God enters your life. When we accept the love of Christ and are born again into God’s family change happens.
Change happens again with the Holy Spirit who works within our hearts to change us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Change happens again when we decide to take the word of the Lord to heart and let Him change us into his image.
James 1:22-25 NIV says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
So, How do we change? We change through and because of our decision to accept and do what the word of God says.
Colossians 3:10 says, “And I have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
And later in verses 12-14 he says “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive and offense. Forgive as quick and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
Take a look in the mirror. . . Do you see your self changing and making decisions?
Or do you demand that everyone else changes.
2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
How wonderful it is when God works in us by His Spirit, bringing to pass changes, helping us make decisions, and removing the ugliness of the self-life and the old life to make way for the new life and new image of Christ in our lives!
Friends, in short I would say seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.
If you seek the glory of God day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute; if you seek to please God in everything that you do and every decision you make, you cannot help but become more Christ like. Simply seek God first before all else and your life will reflect his will, love, and glory to the world.
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