When we are born, we have a brain but not a mind ... except it be our mother's audible prayers, singing or other sounds we heard or movements we felt, being yet unborn. While an unborn baby probably has very little real thought, if any, at this stage in life, it's mother and even more-so, God, are thinking of him/her constantly. The Psalmist made that fact plain, when he said, "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought.... Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Psm.139:15-16.
God's primary and final goal for every truly born again Christian is Christ-likeness. When God created the first man in His own "image and likeness", part of that image and likeness was a free will to choose what we will do with our lives. What glory would there be, to God, if we were simply predestined pegs on God's game board and had no mind of our own to choose to live for Him, or not. After the fall of Adam and Eve, and therefore the human race, because they chose to disobey God's single commandment to them, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it...." Gen.2:17, God chose to provide a remedy for their sinful disobedience. He gave them the promise of a Redeemer, Messiah who would give His own life to pay for their sins, redeem them and restore them to God's original purpose. His Purpose ... that they choose, by their own free will, to walk with God in His image and likeness. As a means of reminding the human race of God's promise and pointing them to Christ, God gave them the Old Testament blood sacrifices of innocent lambs which were without spot or blemish, typifying The Lamb Of God, Jesus Christ .... (Messiah). "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God ...." Col.1:14-15. As Christ reflects the perfect image and likeness of God, we have His example and Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us into that same image and likeness... as Christians "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor.3:18. Christ-likeness being God's perfect will for every Christian, and for those who will be saved in the future, let us seek Godliness through prayer, Bible study, good stewardship, faithful witnessing to others, obedience in all things and yielding our minds to Christ-like thoughts. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...." Phil. 2:5.
Christlikeness loves God with our whole selves:
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matt.22:37.
Christlikeness is right-mindedness:
"Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." Luke 8:
Christlikeness anxiously receives God's word:
"These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11.
Christlikeness resists the lusts of the flesh and is transformed to Christ:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom.12:2.
Christlikeness brings peace, harmony and effectiveness to Christ's Church:
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Cor.1:10.
Christlikeness is fearless, powerful, loving and of a sound mind: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Tim.1:7.
Christlikeness is stable and single-minded for God and right:"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.' James 1:8.
Christlikeness draws nearer and nearer to God and truth:
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8.
Christlikeness in the Christian will be finished and perfected at the Rapture.
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 Jn.3:2.
RB
1 comment:
A hearty Amen!!
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