For whom he (God) did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son (Jesus), that he (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:3-5
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
I was reminded again yesterday about my need to be more like Jesus. It was such a precious reminder. That’s how God is. Always reminding us of His Presence with us as He makes us into His amazing, loving image. What an incredible privilege it is to be the sons and daughters of God.
I was watching something yesterday and a pastor read the love chapter in 1 Corinthians in the Bible’s New Testament. Suddenly, my heart softened to the words of this precious passage of scripture. The words just help me to relax, calm down, gain a greater perspective, reset priorities and encourage me to want to be more patient and loving towards my wife, family, friends, and those I meet throughout the day and week.
As I was reading the passage again right now, the sweet Holy Spirit reminded me that His work in my life will make me like the Heavenly characteristics listed in verses 4-7 below. I got so excited just thinking that He’s doing that kind of wonderful “love” work in all His children as they continue walking with Jesus. What a blessing to be made into Christ’s image. What peace, rest, love, grace, mercy and joy awaits us as we grow in Jesus. This is what we as individuals and the world at large need today, and every day – The soothing, secure, loving, and comforting touch of Jesus in our lives.
“Jesus, please make me more loving, more like You.”
1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13
God’s sustaining love is so powerful and reaches into our hearts to bring us all that He is.
God bless,
Mark