Becoming more Christ-like (1)

‘...we become more and more like Him.’ 2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB

Becoming more Christ-like doesn’t mean losing your individuality and being a mindless clone. God created the characteristics that make you unique, so He certainly doesn’t want to destroy them. Christ-likeness is about transforming your character, not your personality. Paul writes, ‘…throw off…your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception… Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.’ (Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT) Every time you forget that character, not comfort, is God’s first priority in your life you become frustrated and wonder, ‘Why is all this happening to me? Why doesn’t God do something about it?’ Abundant life isn’t the absence of adversity, it is growth in the midst of it. ‘As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.’ You say, ‘Yes, but how does this happen in real life?’ Through our choices-we choose to do the right thing, then trust God’s Spirit to give us the power, love, faith and wisdom to do it. Since His Spirit lives inside us, these things are available for the asking. But when you ask Him and God tells you what to do, you must obey Him. When Joshua stood at the River Jordan, its floodwaters only receded after he stepped in. Obedience unlocks God’s power! God waits for you to act on His instructions. You can’t wait until you feel capable or confident, you must move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears. That’s how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and how Christ-like character is developed in you.