Destined To Be Like Christ

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

We are related by adoption through the new birth experience that makes us family, but none of us resembles the other, at least not on the outside. Our relationship comes through His blood that was shed for us, blood that covers our sin.

In time, we do grow to be more like each other, though in fact it is Jesus who we are growing more to be like. You and I have been destined to be conformed to fit, as it were, into the image of Christ.

Strange as it may seem, even our struggles and our pain can help us to be more like Christ. The struggles of our life are the heat that brings the impurities to the surface. God does not cause the struggles in our life, but He can use them if we allow Him to.

Let us let the pain of those struggles motivate us to seek Christ at a deeper level and bring us closer to His Word and to His principles for living. Our problems can been the very thing that give us more compassion, patience, and tolerance with others who are struggling.

I want to look like Jesus.

Question for thought

In what ways do you think you are more like Christ than you were several years ago or months ago?