Created to become like Christ:
“Then God said, ‘let us make man in our image and likeness.”
~Genisis 1:26
Like God we are- spiritual beings, intellectual, relational, with a moral conscience. We were made to be like God, truly righteous and holy. Because of sin we fall short of this glory. Satan will use this oldest temptation “ye shall be as gods.” ~Genisis 3:5 in deceit twisting the true reality of Gods purpose for us. Yes, we were made to be like God, but let me clarify we are not GOD or god's. To become like God is not the same as becoming God. To become like God as Christians we must learn how to change our old habits, taking one habit at a time. God doesn’t want you to become a god; He wants you to become godly, taking on His values, attitudes, and character.
“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”
~ Ephesians 4:22
He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality. God created your uniqueness, so He certainly doesn’t want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality. Yet we cannot change everything about us at once, if we try our character will only become foolish. God wants you to develop the kind of character that describes the beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:1-12), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), Paul’s great chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13), and Peter’s list of characteristics that take effect into a productive life (2 Peter 1:5-8)
"That you put on a new man which was created according to god in true righteousness and holiness.”
~ Ephesians 4:24
This is no easy task to do, and at times is very painful, But Gods ultimate goal for your life is not comfort on earth. But to train us to become like him in all things, Good and Evil. God chooses imperfect people as a lesson and encouragement for all of us. God acts in ways that are opposite of what we think is best or realistic. We cannot prevent temptations in life, but there is an escape. To gain this knowledge you must not abandon God from your life. Leaving God out of your plans, is an act of placing yourself above Him, defying his authority. Everything that God asks you to do, is a command for your own good. We must trust that even in our misunderstandings and struggles that God knows what he’s doing. Once you begin to trust God in everything, becoming content in your weaknesses your life will start making sense. Contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God, causing us to depend on him. I’ve learned to try to be happy with the thorns in my flesh, because when I am weak, then I become strong in the Lord, the less that I have the more I’ll begin to depend on him. Our weakness prevents us from becoming arrogant, keeping us humble. In doing this you will learn that life is supposed to be difficult. Understanding that we are not of this world, and that Earth is not our heaven. If you want God to use you, you must learn who God is. Learning who you are in Christ will be the first step to overcoming any obstacles as a Christian. So how do we become like God?
“So that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
~Ephesians 4:12-13
The first step is recognizing what we will be, (our future). This is God’s intentions. When we start realizing what God intends for us to become, we will understand the meaning to the purpose of life. We can only begin to grow up when we start denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and getting to work in the ministry that God intends for us.
“So, I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.”
~Ephesians 4:17-19
Secondly, we must dismiss what we once were, (our past). Begin to regard yourself as a Christ follower. If you don’t think you need Jesus this bad yet, then listen to how God describes your condition. Notice the words God uses to describe our condition without Jesus. “futility” “darkened” “separated” “ignorance” “hardening” “lost all sensitivity” “sensuality” “indulgence” “impurity” “lust”. When ‘I’ sit on the throne of ‘my’ life and seek control, God says that I am ignorant, insensitive, indulgent, impure, and immoral.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
~Ephesians 4:1-3
The more we give into our desires, the more controlling those desires become. However, having desires are not all bad in themselves, there are some desires that are God-given, but they need to be illuminated through the Lord. God’s image is in all of us, when he made his creation it was meant to be good. On a daily basis, we must restrain our decisions to become more like Christ. Otherwise, Satan will try to use forces such as your peers, parents, co-workers and culture to mold you into their image.
" And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
~Romans 12:2
Finally, if you want to become like God, we must evaluate what we are becoming, (our present)
“You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. …
~Ephesians 4:20-21
Becoming like Christ is neither instant nor automatic. The more time we spiritually and consciously spend with him, the more we become like him.
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
~Acts 4:13
They took note of what? That they had been with Jesus. This is what happens when you focus and sit in the presence of our King. People begin to notice. All this is what God intends for us. We don’t have to think about evangelism it just happens. The bible is our curriculum and is provided by God for the purpose of us knowing him, hearing him, and for him to become the model of how our lives should be. In all this we must learn to repent and die to ourselves.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord."
~Ephesians 5:8-10
Everything from our past that relates to the old way of life must go. Its rotten through and through. We must get rid of it. Start thinking in Gods perspective, being renewed in our minds. Putting on the character of Christ. God breaks this down to a language that is crystal clear through the bible.
“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
~Ephesians 4:25-32
God is telling us to think about and compare the amount of time we give out, in our devotions, our bible reading, prayer life, and ministry. Try to take more time to put on your new self, in all that we think, what we do and what we say. Because God thinks you are worth it, and Jesus thought you were worth it. So much so that he died to make you a child of God. Rick Warren said: “Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven. This is our greatest privilege, this is our immediate responsibility, and this is our ultimate destiny.”
“Therefore, do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
~Ephesians 5:17
So, to recap if you want to become like God, First recognize your future, what we will be. Second, dismiss your past, where we have come from the place without hope, meaning, purpose, and without Jesus. And finally, if you want to become like God, we must evaluate our worth and responsibility for our eternal destination.
The Lord’s Faithful servant,
Tinisha
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