“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” – Romans 8:29 (KJV)
It is such a great honour that God, who knew us before we were formed, would also predestinate us to conform to the image of His Son. This is something we should not take lightly but rather embrace with great joy. It’s a divine invitation for us to develop a relationship with God through Christ Jesus and, in so doing, help establish His Kingdom here on earth.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) tells us that “…we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. This comes with great responsibility as children of God. For us to do the “good works,” we must be willing to be a disciple of Christ, and to be a disciple of Christ, we must be committed to His teachings and actively imitate His life and habits without reservations or conditions. God’s love for us has no boundaries; we just need to surrender to the authority of Christ Jesus and let God work out His purposes in our lives.
To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, we must have a mind renewal so as to be effective in our walk with Him. Romans 12:2 (KJV) tells us “…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
It is not an easy road to follow Jesus. We must deny ourselves, be consistent in prayer even during challenges, put the Kingdom of God agenda first, study and know His Word, and do it. There are times we will experience rejection because of our stance for the things of God, our Father. We may lose family and friends, but that’s alright since the benefits of the Lord far outweigh the discomfort we will experience.
So, for the image of Christ to be made manifest in our lives, we must be intentional in learning the teachings of Jesus and becoming more like Him in character. We must be committed to a lifelong relationship of spiritual growth, moving from being a mere believer to a disciple. We must be willing to serve even when uncomfortable. Know that God is with you no matter the circumstances.
Read: Matthew 16:24-26; Ephesians 1:3-5
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 41:7-13; Luke 10:25-42; Luke 11:1-4; Deuteronomy 2:24-37; Deuteronomy 3; Deuteronomy 4:1-14