Wednesday

Becoming More Like Christ Everyday - (2 Corinthians 3:15-18)

“Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:15-18

Conversion is amazing! We go from blinded to seeing, from veils covering our eyes to seeing clearly. When the Lord renews our heart, we are free to live for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our motives change, our hearts change, our goals change, and we long to become more like Christ.

The work of being transformed into the likeness of Christ requires a joint effort. God clearly controls, leads, and enables, yet we need to surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit and follow Christ. We surrender and place ourselves in a position to be transformed by God. We open our Bibles and pray and let God transform our hearts and minds. We allow God to work in us by attending church and youth group meetings. And we can yield to Christ in times of praise and worship.

Our holy God calls us to be holy because He is holy. It pleases Him when we make it our aim to be like Jesus Christ, and He has given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to grow in holiness.

God is all around us, but most importantly Christ Jesus dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. We are in Christ and Christ is in us.  He enables us to reflect the Lord's glory and to be transformed into His likeness!

Sunday

23 Marks of True Christian from Romans 12:9-21

At the opening of Romans 12, Paul urges us to offer our lives as living sacrifices as a form of worship.

In verses 9-21 Paul lists 23 lists qualities that should mark the life of a genuine Christian. We are saved by faith, and not by our actions. Yet our lives should reflect Jesus Christ and demonstrate qualities in keeping with a heart transformed by the power of God.

Let’s take some time today to evaluate ourselves in each of these areas. Let’s praise God for any good fruit we see, and let’s ask for his help to grow more and more in the days ahead.

1.        Let love be genuine.
2.        Abhor what is evil.
3.        Hold fast to what is good.
4.        Love one another with brotherly affection.
5.        Outdo one another in showing honor.
6.        Do not be slothful in zeal.
7.        Be fervent in spirit.
8.        Serve the Lord.
9.        Rejoice in hope.
10.      Be patient in tribulation.
11.      Be constant in prayer.
12.      Contribute to the needs of the saints.
13.      Seek to show hospitality.
14.      Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them.
15.      Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16.      Live in harmony with one another.
17.      Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
18.      Never be wise in your own sight.
19.      Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
20.      If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
21.      Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[i] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
22.      “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
23.      Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

***Romans 12:9-21 (ESV)