BEING CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST

Isn’t it amazing today to look around and see how many people are just trying to figure out WHO THEY ARE ? For each and every person there is a journey to find oneself and likewise a true PURPOSE AND PATH. There are SO MANY VOICES that are shouting at people today; trying to DEFINE how to be the person you want to be. Voices telling us that we can choose our gender from a multitude of defined boxes that truly defy logic and common sense. A great emphasis is put on FREEDOM TO BE YOURSELF, but that freedom often comes with a continual battle on both the inside and outside to prove oneself acceptable and worthy. There is a cascade of therapists and drugs provided to help us deal with the unsureness that goes with a lack of peace and joy….and perhaps even HOPE. Many people seek religion and Church traditions and liturgy to find a sense of belonging, labeling themselves according to a particular “denomination” or belief system that they have found grounding in. Others will embrace a hedonistic lifestyle focused on self pleasure and gain. A life filled with things, experiences, toys that ultimately lose the shine they once held. THE COMMONALITY THAT ALL THESE THINGS SHARE IS A MAN CENTRIC FOCUS AND FOUNDATION. A trust in other men and women to provide a picture of life, while being coached and controlled to a false sense of Truth and Meaning. FORTUNATELY FOR THOSE WHO WILL SEEK HIM, GOD HAS A PLAN FOR LIFE AS WELL. There are some Essential Truths that are important for all of us as human beings to contemplate and understand. GOD CREATED US ! Each one of us is “Uniquely Made”; knit together in our mother’s womb with God’s Image, personal qualities and gifts, and a purposeful path already designed for our lives. WHY DO SO MANY MISS SEEING AND FINDING IT ? Simple answer….you only FIND IT if you are in Communion and Obedience to GOD HIMSELF. Rejecting God takes away His Voice and His Clarity, but, It will never take away His Love For You, or His desire that you would give your life to Him…WILLINGLY ! God never forces us to seek Him and Love Him, but boy does He ever desire for it to be the case. It is also clear that simply attending a church, gaining knowledge or traditions, but not having a PERSONAL LOVE AND ABIDING IN GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS will not bring you to a point of completion, sanctification, and righteousness….for GOD TRULY SEES AND MEASURES YOUR HEART.

THE LORD YOUR GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST, A MIGHTY ONE WHO WILL SAVE; HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH GLADNESS; HE WILL QUIET YOU BY HIS LOVE; HE WILL EXULT OVER YOU WITH LOUD SINGING. Zephaniah 3:17

EVERYONE WHO IS CALLED BY MY NAME, WHOM I CREATED FOR MY GLORY, WHOM I FORMED AND MADE. Isaiah 43:7

THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO WORK IT AND KEEP IT. Genesis 2:15

THEY THAT SHOULD SEEK GOD, AND PERHAPS FEEL THEIR WAY TOWARD HIM AND FIND HIM. YET HE IS ACTUALLY NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US. Acts 17:27

When God The Father sent Jesus to earth to be among us, there was a Reason and a Purpose. Man had become so caught up in all of the personal pursuits and man centric activities I mentioned above, that God created a Plan to RETURN US TO HIM ! In Christ, our sins were atoned for once and for all. Jesus is THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE for us as men and women to ABIDE IN GOD AND HIS KINGDOM ! In our surrender of self to Christ, we are REBORN, and BECOME CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST ! Giving our life to Jesus is the starting point of a long journey of learning, trusting, being pruned, and ultimately JOINING CHRIST IN A LIFE ETERNAL. Our membership in Churches can be a blessed place for gaining knowledge and having Community Fellowship, but perhaps even more important is that WE SHOULD FIND A PLACE OF SERVICE AND GOOD WORKS TO ACTIVELY SHOW OUR TRANSFORMATION IN BELONGING TO JESUS ! In all His teachings and sermons, Jesus was showing us HOW TO LIVE AND BE LIKE HIM. A GOD CENTRIC LIFE ! LIVING IT AND DOING IT GOD’S WAY…NOT MAN’S WAY. The Pharisees knew God, but they fell into the trap of human desire to self rule and control, by adding to God’s Word and Commandments by establishing traditions and rules outside God’s Clear Design. Many others sought little gods in pagan practice and ritual. Jesus encountered it all….and it all still exists today. WHAT DID JESUS FOCUS ON ? I would suggest that He focused on bringing God’s Kingdom To Earth, and showing even the most egregious sinners the pathway to God’s Love….HIMSELF:) A life that truly has God’s Commandments written on one’s Heart; and a desire to be Conformed to the WAYS OF CHRIST. Not talking it, but LIVING IT !

FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. Ephesians 2:10

HUMBLE YOURSELVES, THEREFORE, UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD SO THAT AT THE PROPER TIME HE MAY EXALT YOU, CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETIES ON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU. 1 Peter 5:6-7

IN THE SAME WAY, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IS HEAVEN. Matthew 5:16

Following Jesus is a CHOICE. Following Jesus is A NEW LIFE AND IDENTITY. Following Jesus is a JOURNEY TOWARD HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. A Journey toward maturity; not an instantaneous perfection and completeness. Good Works, Service toward Others, Stewardship, Discipleship, Prayer, Faith Building Knowledge Pursuits, Fellowship, Forgiveness, Self Control, Sexual Purity, Trust. The list of things to work on and accomplish is BIG AND REAL…but ALWAYS KNOW THAT JESUS IS RIGHT BESIDE YOU. YOUR GUIDE, YOUR ROCK, YOUR SAVIOR, YOUR LORD, AND YOUR KING ! THE answer is not in self help and enlightenment. The answer is not in tradition and progressive thought and action. THE ANSWER IS ABIDING IN CHRIST AND HE IN YOU ! His Yoke Is Light and will bring rest, hope, joy, and LIFE ETERNAL.

EMBRACE HIM/JAA

KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD’S LOVE AS YOU WAIT FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BRING YOU TO ETERNAL LIFE. Jude 1:21