Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
Values: Become like Christ/Life in Community
2 Cor. 3:18
“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.”
Hebrews 10:25
“…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Understand:
As Christ-followers, each day we have before us brings us one day closer to seeing Christ face to face. One day, we will all stand before Him. Each day that we are given should be a day that we grow more like Christ—this is the goal for all Christians! We are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus, especially in relationship to obedience and trust in God. Through the Holy Spirit, God refashions believers into the image of His Son, who is set before us as a model of the redeemed life (Willard).
“This marvelous, transforming process takes place from glory to glory…that is, from one degree of glory to another. But we must remember, it is not a matter of instant change. There is no experience in the Christian life that will reproduce His image in a moment. It is a process, not a crisis. It is not like the fading glory of the law, but an ever-increasing glory. The power for this wonderful process is the Holy Spirit of God—just as by the Spirit of the Lord. As we behold the Lord of glory, study Him, contemplate Him, and gaze on Him adoringly, the Spirit of the Lord works in our life the marvelous miracle of increasing conformity to Christ (McDonald).”
Growing in Christlikeness was never intended to be done isolated from others. On the contrary, it was intended to take place in the context of a community alongside other believers. We’re to live our lives in fellowship with one another; we’re not to forsake one another—we need each other. Simply put: community is key to growing in Christ-likeness.
You might be asking, “Why do I need others?” I’d say, “It’s because a church family provides consistent Bible teaching.” In our community, it often comes through small groups, teaching from Terry and other staff members, and so on. The church family is called to grow spiritually together, spurring one another on.
If that isn’t enough reason for doing life together, just consider these other reasons:
- Honor God together through worship
- Find accountability
- Support in trials
- Opportunities to serve
- Make disciples
There’s no way we would grow in a full understanding of Christ and what it means to grow in His likeness without the active involvement of others in our lives. Growing in Christlikeness takes life in community.
Apply:
*From what you have just read and considered: What is a personal implication/application for your life today?
Live:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today. KEEP PRAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.