“This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.”
Ephesians 4:13 (CEV) Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic. It’s gradual and progressive. Paul said, “This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (Ephesians 4:13 CEV). You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation—developing the character of Jesus—will take the rest of your life. And even then it won’t be completed here on Earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns. At that point, any unfinished work on your character will be wrapped up. The Bible says that when you’re finally able to see Jesus perfectly, you will become perfectly like him: “We are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NLT). Many Christians become confused because they ignore this simple truth: God is far more interested in building your character than he is in anything else. People worry when God seems silent on specific issues, such as “What career should I choose?” The truth is, there are many different careers that could be in God’s will for your life. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner. God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings. God is much more concerned about your character than your career—because you will take your character into eternity, not your career. God’s purpose is to make you like him before he takes you to heaven. Becoming like Jesus is your greatest privilege, your immediate responsibility, and your ultimate destiny.
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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
John 8:12 (NIV) When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”, he was defining himself. He was saying, “I know who I am.” At least 18 times in the Bible, Jesus said, “I am”--and then gave a description. He described himself as the door, the bread of life, the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. Over and over, he defined himself. Jesus knew who he was (and still is) and, as a result, he was not under pressure. Jesus understood his identity—and it’s crucial that you understand yours too. When you’re unsure about your identity, you’ll be pressured to fit into other people’s molds. They will try to make you what they think you should be, rather than who God made you to be. Stress comes from trying to be somebody you’re not—when you fear you’ll accidentally drop your façade and people will discover who you really are. The way to counterbalance external pressures is to have an internal sense of satisfaction about who God made you to be. You discover who you are by knowing whose you are. The Bible says you were created by God. You are deeply loved by him. You are accepted as you are. He has a plan for your life. When you understand this, you’ll find yourself free to serve other people. Jesus constantly did things that surprised everyone else—because he was free; he felt no pressure to meet people’s expectations. He chose to serve others, regardless of how it might be perceived. He washed his disciples’ feet—something they were too insecure to do for each other. Jesus always served from a position of strength. He knew who and whose he was. Do you want to live in the same freedom Jesus did? Find security in knowing that you are a dearly loved and accepted child of God. There’s no need to pretend to be anyone else. “Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable.”
1 Peter 2:4 (GNT) God says that you’re accepted—and that you’re valuable! How much do you think you’re worth? We're not talking about your net worth; we're talking about your self-worth. Don’t ever confuse your tangible valuables with your value as a person. Being rich or poor has nothing to do with your worth as a person. Two things determine value in life:
The Bible says, “You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB). You belong to God, and Jesus paid for you with his life. The cross proves your value. Nobody has ever paid a greater ransom than God paid for you! You’re acceptable, and you’re valuable. Peter uses the imagery of a building project to illustrate your value. He paints a picture of God constructing a stone building. That building represents the church, the family of God. Peter says, “Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable” (1 Peter 2:4 GNT). Jesus is the living stone. He was perfect, but some people still rejected him. You may think, “If I could just be perfect, then I would be accepted.” No! Jesus was perfect, but even he wasn’t accepted by everyone. Yet he was “chosen by God as valuable.” You are one of God’s chosen, valuable stones too. When you gave your life to Christ, you became a building block in God’s great plan. The next time you’re questioning your own self-worth, remember that Jesus thought you were worth his life, and you’re now forever part of God’s family. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
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