God made human beings to be a reflection of His divine qualities. As children of God, we shared God’s perfect nature. God’s purpose for us was to display His glory (Isa 43:6).
By choosing sin over God’s commands, however, we failed to live up to God's purpose for us. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23)—we forsook our noble identity and corrupted ourselves with sin.
In our fallen state, it was impossible for us to restore His image in us. But God in His mercy accomplished for us what we were powerless to do. He sent us His Son, who laid down His life in order to give us a new life. He recreated us in Christ and enabled us once again to live in His likeness, for "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor 5:17). God made us a new creation and is continually at work in us to transform us into His likeness.
We who have been born again through Christ have the promise of attaining God’s perfect nature, for "when He is revealed, we shall be like Him" (1 Jn 3:2). With this glorious hope, we ought to flee the lusts of the flesh and seek to grow in God’s likeness through the transforming power of Christ’s Spirit. We receive the Bible's command:Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:22-24) We must yield to God’s transforming power by obeying His word and submitting to His Spirit. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10).
We are bearers of God’s image. Let us clothe ourselves with God’s nature always, whether at home, at school, or at work. May our thoughts, speech, and action manifest God’s love and righteousness. May our lives be a reflection of the Lord’s likeness, with ever-increasing glory.
Lord, I want to be like you. I want to live my whole life for your glory. Through your grace, you have made it possible for me to imitate you. Help me to live daily in your likeness so that others may see you in me and be drawn to you.
|
| |
