More and More Like God

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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NIV)

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Devotion:

            Today, I want to encourage all my believing friends with these words from 2 Corinthians. Paul here is writing to a church that was not always living out their calling to be Christ followers. He is urging them here in these words to turn to God and when they do, they will be rewarded by the transformation of their lives into the image of Christ. The same will happen to believers today. Once we repent of the things that separate us from God we can be accepted and changed into people who truly follow the Lord.

            The results of us following the way of Christ will, no matter how slowly, be that our lives are changed. This change will become obvious to anyone who sees us. We will begin to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. The love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control that the Lord gives to those who follow him will become increasingly evident in our lives. Even the most jaded of unbelievers will take notice that something has changed within us. Our lives will preach a better sermon than our words ever could. We will walk the walk and talk the talk of a genuine Christian.

            The good news of this passage is that this change can be made in anyone’s life. It is free for the asking. It may happen in our lives so gradually that we never notice, or it may happen in a blinding flash of God’s love visited upon us. Jesus loves changing his followers into new creations. Just as Jesus loved to confound the religious of his day, so he loves to challenge the religious types of today by being an agent of transformation they cannot control.

            When the Spirit breaks into the lives of believers, it is a powerful force for change. The indwelling Holy Spirit transforms lives just like he did in Jerusalem to those first disciples 2,000 years ago. God loves us with a love that knows no end. God loves to display his love by making his children into lovers of people. Changing them according to his will and plan. Let us ask the Lord to change us into believers who radiate God’s love to our broken and hurting world.

Prayer:

            Holy God, we come before you today as believers who desire to know the fullness of your love. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that the fruit of the Spirit may show in our lives. Let ask, seek, and knock at heaven’s door for your blessings to be poured out upon us. Lord, make us more like Jesus so that we can love others as he loved us. Being willing to sacrifice everything for one another. Let us bring glory and fame to our Lord and Savior. Amen. 

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