“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (NIV)
How did Bathsheba make it into the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1:6? How did you make it into the family tree of Christ? Bathsheba and you are products of the grace of God. The only way in is through the doorway of God’s grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8-9 (NIV)
You are in the Royal Family through the grace of God as evidenced in your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Now that you have been adopted into His family, God wants you to become like Christ.
The process of sanctification follows salvation. Once you are saved, God places you on a path to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. You have the wonderful privilege of participating with God in the process of conformity. God seeks to remove anything in us that doesn’t look like Jesus.
Sometimes God will use the chisel of adversity and sometimes God will use the hammer of silence. God will allow us to go through seasons of uncertainty to conform us into the likeness of Christ.
Reflect for a few moments on the level of Christ-likeness that has been attained in your journey thus far. What behavior and attitudes do you exhibit currently that just don’t line up with Christ-likeness? Will you participate with God in the process of conformity?
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care