Our Example

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“So you became our followers and the Lord’s; ...“ 1 Thessalonians 1v5-6 (TLB)

As believers we are followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In a sense, there is something about Christians that should make people be able to say – oh yeah, I see the difference, he or she is a Christian. One of the distinct features of a Christian is that we have the Spirit of Christ, and Galatians 5:22-24 (AMP) tells us that “But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.” By yielding to the Spirit of God, are transformed from the inside out, we can put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit. We are also being molded into the likeness of Jesus, Romans 8v29 (NIV) saying that “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.”

Supplementary Text

“See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children – think of it – and we really are! But since most people don’t know God, naturally they don’t understand that we are His children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, right now, and we can’t even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when He comes we will be like Him, as a result of seeing Him as He really is.” 1 John 3v1-2 (TLB)

Prayer

Father we thank You for calling us Your children, making us Your own. We thank You for Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and we thank You for conforming us to His image. Spirit of God we yield to You as You continue to change us from the inside out and pray that indeed Christ will be formed in us to the glory of Your name in Jesus name, amen.