Spiritual Growth
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29
The Christian life is a life of continuous spiritual growth to conform to the image of His Son. This is a lifelong process as God renews our mind to the mind of Christ and changes our hearts to the heart of Jesus.
Our mind is renewed by changing our thinking in accordance to the Word. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) Our minds will rewire to the ways of Christ to our last breath. We can tell that our minds are renewing when the things of God dominate our thoughts and we find the things of God more desirable than the things of the world.
To conform to the image of Jesus, our hearts have to change because we live out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) We know our hearts have changed when we live for Christ, being a Light in this world. Our hearts change when our life resembles the life of Jesus. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. (1 John 2:3) When we follow the Spirit, our life will be like Jesus’ life and we will minister personally to people by experiencing the thoughts and emotions of Jesus. This makes us dependent on Christ drawing us closer to Him which continuously changes our heart to the heart of Jesus. Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6) Christ lives in us through the Spirit guiding us to live as Jesus lived. Living as Jesus lived changes our hearts.
God renews our mind and changes our heart, and we become more motivated to serve the Lord. Spiritual growth can be measured by an increasing motivation to be closer to Christ and to serve Him. Spiritual growth is also measured by God’s love in our hearts, motivating us to bring Christ to lost souls. The motivation to serve the Lord by bringing Christ to lost souls will dominate our life and become main reason we live.
We are now living life to the full with a divine reason to live. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Being motivated to be closer to Christ and to serve Him is life to the full which is far better than anything the world has to offer.
Today, pray for life to the full in Christ and ask the Spirit to guide you to a fulfilling day. Seek to reflect Christ to everyone.
Prayer: Lord, guide me in the Spirit to reflect Christ to the world. Renew my mind and heart to that of Christ, so I can be more motivated to minister to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen