Seeds Of Hope Daily Devotional: Christ-like

Showing posts with label Christ-like. Show all posts

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Decrease To Increase

A nearby church called a new pastor. He was well received and in a short time the church began to grow. The attendance at Sunday school and worship services increased beyond expectations. Even the increase in the number of people at prayer meeting surprised everyone.

“Congratulations on the way your church is responding to you,” I said after being introduced to him. “What are you doing differently than most other churches to see such growth?”

“I’m decreasing,” was his strange reply.

“Decreasing?” I asked with a question mark on my face. “Are you on a diet?”

“Well, not really,” came his quick reply. “It’s what John said about Jesus: ‘He will increase if I will decrease.’“

John’s willingness to decrease is an important first step in humility. Those of us who want to serve God with the gifts He has given us are always tempted to do what John did in reverse order: we want the attention and focus to be upon us and what we are doing when blessings occur and success arrives.

We must never forget that it is always about Him. If we want to see Him at work in our lives, we must do as John did so consistently: point to Him and make Him the “main attraction.” We must never put ourselves first. We must stand aside and let His Kingdom grow through us!

Prayer: Lord, it’s difficult to get out of the way and not want to be praised in what we do for You. We pray for hearts that are humble and lives that are surrendered to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Becoming Christ-Like

A sculptor was beginning a new project and a reporter came to interview him about his work. He had never talked to a sculptor before so he asked, “What are you going to create?”

“A horse standing on its hind legs,” he answered.

“How will you do such a thing?” he wondered.

“By knocking off everything that doesn’t look like a horse,” he replied.

Paul in writing to the Corinthians said, “Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” God, we are reminded by Paul, is in deed and in fact, shaping us into the likeness of Christ.

As Christians, we need to know and accept the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We may at times think that we are at the end of our rope but as followers of Christ we are never at the end of our hope!

As the sculptor worked with his block of marble, so is our loving Lord working with us to “knock off” everything in our lives that is not Christ-like. We sing our songs and say our prayers and tell others that “we want to be like Him.” And someday we will be.

But until that day arrives we must be patient and willing to submit to His will, allow Him to work in us and on us so that He may work through us.

Prayer: We know, Heavenly Father, that You have a plan for each of us to become like Your Son. Give us the desire to work with You while You complete your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Unlimited!

George was well known and highly esteemed by the members of his church. By the world’s definition of success he would be considered one who “had it made.” He had a comfortable life, his children settled into good careers and was always available to serve the Lord whenever someone called upon him. He was well known for his faithfulness and fruitfulness.

Once he was asked, “What’s the source of your energy? How can you do so much for so many and never seem to tire?”

After thinking for a moment he replied, “It’s this - with Christ within me I refuse to accept any human limitations.”

Paul once said, “I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.” What a goal for each of us to adopt: being what Jesus saved us for and wants us to be!

When we fully realize and accept all that He has called us be and do, our lives will have no “human limitations.” Often when an opportunity to serve Him comes our way our first obstacle is to question our abilities or availability. But He never calls us to do anything that is beyond our potential. What He asks us to do he will empower us to accomplish. Trust Him.

Prayer: Lord, may we have an unlimited view of what You would have us to be and do. Free us of self-imposed limitations that cause fear and failure. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 3:12-14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Becoming Christ-Like

A sculptor was beginning a new project and a reporter came to interview him about his work. He had never talked to a sculptor before so he asked, “What are you going to create?”

“A horse standing on its hind legs,” he answered.

“How will you do such a thing?” he wondered.

“By knocking off everything that doesn’t look like a horse,” he replied.

Paul in writing to the Corinthians said, “Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” God, we are reminded by Paul, is in deed and in fact, shaping us in the likeness of Christ.

As Christians, we need to know and accept the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We may at times think that we are at the end of our rope but as followers of Christ we are never at the end of our hope! As the sculptor with his block of marble, our loving Lord is “knocking off” everything in our lives that is not Christ-like. We sing our songs and say our prayers and tell others that “we want to be like Him.” And someday we will be.

But until that day arrives we must be patient and willing to submit to His will, allow Him to work in us and on us so that He may work through us.

Prayer: We know, Heavenly Father, that You have a plan for each of us to become like Your Son. Give us the desire to work with You while You complete your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (Read more...)