by David Brenneman
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:28-30.
"Its nor uncommon for couples who have been married for a long time to be asked if the are brother and sister because they have taken on so many of each other's characteristics. To some extent, this makes sense, doesn't it? We become like the company we keep.
The same should be true for us in our walk with Christ.
Here is the source of your hope when you get up in the morning. Come rain or shine, come delight or disappointment, God will definitely accomplish His purposes in your life through the day. Your heavenly Father has a plan and purpose for each one He calls His own. You may be able to see how He is doing it in real time, or a few months afterwards, or perhaps not until you stand with Christ in eternity. But know this: today is another day
when your Father will be making you more like His Son."
- exerpts from "Truth for Life 365 Day Devotional" for February 23rd by Alistair Begg.
When we look in a physical mirror, we do expect to see a reflection of ourselves. We see an image that in most cases we do something to make appear better to the eye.
When we look at ourselves with a spiritual sense...are we looking to do the same? See what we see and want it to be better than what it has been? That's what Jesus is doing in our lives if we but submit to what it is that His plans for us are.
In another devotional last night that I saw as connecting to this one, this was from Morning and Evening by C. H. Spurgeon. "You cannot fashion your own cross, though un-belief is a master carpenter when it comes to cross-making. And you are not permitted to choose your own cross, though self-will would love to be lord and master. No, your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you are to accept it cheerfully. You are to take up the cross as your God-chosen badge and burden, not to stand grumbling about it.
This evening Jesus urges you to submit your shoulders to His easy yoke (Matthew 11:28-30). Do not kick your cross with irritation, or trample it in pride, or fall under it in despair, or flee it in fear--just take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Jesus was a cross-bearer; He leads the way in the path of sorrow. You could never desire a better guide! If He carried a cross, what more noble burden would you desire? The way of the cross is the way of safety; don't be afraid to travel its thorny path.
Beloved, the cross is not made of feathers or lined with velvet--it is heavy and hard on disobedient shoulders. But ee though your fears have painted it a dull gray; it's not an iron cross. It's a wooden cross, and a person CAN carry it. The man of sorrows has already tested the load."
We can and should embrace being changed in to the likeness of Christ. That's part of the cross's purpose in our lives. As Spurgeon pointed out in the next paragraphs...those who were tested by it like Moses chose to embrace it...not trading it for anything in the world.
Are we looking like Christ when we look in that spiritual mirror? Are we letting go of self and holding onto what the Spirit's teaching us is important?
A profound thing is this: when we all get to Heaven, our sanctification- that process of making us more like Christ-will be complete. ALL of Heaven will be people who will be like Christ.
Here on Earth we are either choosing our path or His path for our lives. Either we are living for self or living for Jesus. It's either our own cross designed by us to carry or it's the cross that He prepared for us to carry.
When we decide to work out (if we do) we hope to look like something resembling our goal image. We see ourselves as we are, we look at the type of physical being we want to look like. There's a cross to bear to get from one to the other.
Paul wrote about the various fruits of the Spirit. He and Peter wrote about what we ought to expect as we go from one to the other. From what we were when we came to Christ and to what we will be looking like in Christ.
Unlike 99 percent of those in this world who take up a gym membership at or near New Year's as a resolution who give up by the second week of January...there is no stopping what Jesus is doing through the Spirit in each of us.
Our changing from what we were to what we will be within Heaven's gates is not going to stop. We are HIS workmanship. Realize the implications. Jesus who began a good work in you WILL continue it until the day of Christ Jesus...that day when we arrive to our home in Heaven. Jesus does not tire, nor does He sleep. His work continues day and night. It's us who can be like the children of Israel and hinder what's being done in and through us.
Do you want what God wants for you? That's included in taking up the cross He made for you to carry.
Do you want to be all you can be in Christ? That's included in taking up the cross He made for you to carry.
Jesus knows how far you've come and how far you have to go in becoming more like Him.
Don't give up. Don't give in. Satan's schemes for Believer's absolutely are there to hinder the work of God in us.
If you watch the movie Overcomers...listen to what the girl's Dad says during the big race. He already knows what mental and physical issues she will face will be and why she should persist and perservere.
In growing in Christ, in becoming more like Christ, we have His image to look to as to who we will be. That's our goal.
In life, we're to take care of what God gave us in order to fulfill His purposes in us. We know what we ought to be like. It's the doing that we suffer in completing.
Yesterday I took steps to create reminders of my goals as a writer.
I know what I want to accomplish and I know it's going to be a long road if I don't stay at it.
As an example I was shown points out...even baby steps get you somewhere down the road in progress. Standing still gets you no where. If you don't try, don't make the attempt, at obedience, you'll be truly standing in disobedience.
Indecision is a decision in and of itself. If we truly want the righteous life that God desires for us, we need to take up our own God given cross and carry it. Letting go of everything that's trying to entangle us. Every desire that appears so sweet and good but is really a trap to get us to put off our goals in Christ...which is to become more like Him.
Are you seeing Jesus in your Spiritual Mirror or are you still seeing you? Do others see Christ in you or do they still yet just see you?
Being seen as the first shows obedience the other does not.
As we read in the Old Testament "choose this day whom you will serve" each day you get up you choose. Each day you get up is God's grace and mercy giving you the opportunity to do what's right in His eyes.
Do we not want to hear "Well done!" from our Savior?
The choice is in your hands...
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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