Dear Daily Message Readers,
Due to previous time commitments, the devotion for August 19, 2003, will be coming out of devotion archives. Thanks!
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READ: Philippians 3:12-21 and 2 Peter 1:2-4
Philippians 3:21 (NLT) "He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere."
Ginny Owens, who is a blind contemporary Christian recording artist, sings in her song "Own Me" of the struggles she faces to become more Christ-like and perfect. Take a look:
Got a stack of books,
So I could learn how to live;
Many are left half-read,
Covered by the cobwebs on my shelf.
And I got a list of laws,
Growing longer everyday;
If I keep pluggin' away,
Maybe one day I'll perfect myself.
Oh, but all of my labor,
Seems to be in vain;
And all of my laws,
Just cause me more pain;...
Do you share the struggles of Ms. Owens? Do you give it your all to be holy and perfect, bounding your life to a strict set of laws? If so, this brings up an interesting question: Is it possible to be holy and perfect? The answer is, yes, it is not only possible, but it is inevitable. The apostle Paul wrote this in Philippians 1:6, saying, "...God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Paul says that one day the work will be finished and that one day we will be sanctified entirely.
But what is sanctification anyway? Sanctification is the development of Christ-likeness in us. It begins the moment we put our faith in Christ for forgiveness of our sins. In God's eyes we are sanctified, or "set apart" from the ungodliness around us, and placed in His family. But sanctification is also the ongoing process in which we become more and more like our Savior as we allow the Holy Spirit to develop in us His characteristics. Our part is to "keep working," striving to reach spiritual maturity (Philippians 3:12).
1 Thessalonians 5:23 "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again."
Ask yourself this question: Am I better-looking spiritually than I was yesterday? It is a good question to test whether or not you are becoming more like your Savior.
Faith Lesson: Becoming a Christian takes only a moment, but allowing God to make you like Christ takes a lifetime.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
Due to previous time commitments, the devotion for August 19, 2003, will be coming out of devotion archives. Thanks!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
READ: Philippians 3:12-21 and 2 Peter 1:2-4
Philippians 3:21 (NLT) "He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere."
Ginny Owens, who is a blind contemporary Christian recording artist, sings in her song "Own Me" of the struggles she faces to become more Christ-like and perfect. Take a look:
Got a stack of books,
So I could learn how to live;
Many are left half-read,
Covered by the cobwebs on my shelf.
And I got a list of laws,
Growing longer everyday;
If I keep pluggin' away,
Maybe one day I'll perfect myself.
Oh, but all of my labor,
Seems to be in vain;
And all of my laws,
Just cause me more pain;...
Do you share the struggles of Ms. Owens? Do you give it your all to be holy and perfect, bounding your life to a strict set of laws? If so, this brings up an interesting question: Is it possible to be holy and perfect? The answer is, yes, it is not only possible, but it is inevitable. The apostle Paul wrote this in Philippians 1:6, saying, "...God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Paul says that one day the work will be finished and that one day we will be sanctified entirely.
But what is sanctification anyway? Sanctification is the development of Christ-likeness in us. It begins the moment we put our faith in Christ for forgiveness of our sins. In God's eyes we are sanctified, or "set apart" from the ungodliness around us, and placed in His family. But sanctification is also the ongoing process in which we become more and more like our Savior as we allow the Holy Spirit to develop in us His characteristics. Our part is to "keep working," striving to reach spiritual maturity (Philippians 3:12).
1 Thessalonians 5:23 "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again."
Ask yourself this question: Am I better-looking spiritually than I was yesterday? It is a good question to test whether or not you are becoming more like your Savior.
Faith Lesson: Becoming a Christian takes only a moment, but allowing God to make you like Christ takes a lifetime.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
