Bible Verse: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 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 8:28-29
Scripture Reading: Hosea 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 10:17; 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Many a treadmill or other piece of exercise equipment ends up being nothing more functional than a laundry line. Perhaps this is a familiar situation for you. Getting and staying in shape takes hard work and discipline. You won’t get stronger by looking at dumbbells. You have to lift them.
Growing in our relationship with Jesus is no different. Romans 8:28-29 tells us two things:
- We “have been called according to His purpose” (v. 28). God has a plan for each of us and has called us to something. It’s His purpose, not ours. We are part of His plan.
- We are “to be conformed to the image of His Son,” (v. 29). God doesn‘t want to just “save us,”; He wants us to be transformed over time into the image of Jesus, constantly progressing towards Christlikeness.
In order to live as image-bearers of Jesus, we must be intentional about our spiritual growth. It’s pressing into Jesus daily, with passion, dedication and consistency. Growth won’t happen if we are lukewarm, haphazard, and undisciplined in our approach to God. We must be intentional and make time for God, regardless of our busy schedule.
Just as a muscle grows each time you exercise, we too must exercise our faith and spiritual growth. Reading and meditating on God’s Word daily, as well as spending quality time in prayer, are the first steps to pressing in. The Bible encourages us to “Pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In other words, pray a lot; talk to God about everything. We are also instructed to meditate or think on Scripture day and night to do everything written in it (Joshua 1:8).
Active involvement in a church should also be a priority in our lives, as should regular times of worship. The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” (Romans 10:17). God has called us to gather together and to serve. When the Word is ministered, our faith grows.
Living a life of purpose and godly impact is a lifelong journey, and we won’t fully arrive until we’re standing in the presence of God. It’s never too late to start pressing into Jesus and allowing Him to “press in” to you. It takes effort on our part, but the fruits are well worth it, as we impact lives along the way and as we grow more and more to be like Jesus. Press on toward the prize of standing before the Father one day to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant,” (Matthew 25:21).
Prayer: Father, I want to grow to be more like Jesus. Please help me to “press in” to Your Word, to prayer, and to my church, so I can be part of what You want to do on this earth and can become more like Jesus.
Reflection: What can you do to become more like Jesus? Is it time to start attending and serving your church? More time in the Word? More time in prayer? Or is it interacting with other people as Jesus did? What step can you take, even today, to move in that direction?
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