We slept for the first night in the place God provided for us on April 5. The new house represents God’s grace and goodness. It is becoming our home.
I debated over this week’s Spigot word – Over the past ten days, we have built 15 pieces of furniture (10 chairs, a table, desk, bed, couch, and a side table), so the words “build” and “IKEA” rose to the surface. Yet, I realized that the furniture we built shifted from pieces and parts to a whole. Through perseverance and many hours, we worked hard and witnessed the furniture becoming complete.
Become – Grow to be, turn into, begin to be.
I find myself pondering that which is growing in my life and the ways God transforms my soul. What are the ways God grows me? How is God growing you?
Each day God offers us invitations. The world extends invitations as well. We experience opportunities and choice. Each choice leads us towards God or sets a subtle trajectory away from God.
Jesus invites us to become like Him. As we surrender our wills to His ways, He transforms our inner being which impacts our attitudes and actions: the ways we think and live. God’s desire for each of us is to become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ – to become Christlike (Romans 8:29).
Who am I becoming? Who are you becoming? Reflect on the choices you’ve made in the past day or week – Do you look a little more like Jesus than a year ago?
As we spend time with Jesus through different spiritual practices, He conforms me and you to His image. We become like Him in the ways we think and what we do. Describe what spending time with Jesus looks like in your life.
What am I becoming? If Jesus is who we become like, what attributes describe Jesus? When Jesus lived on the earth He experienced life 100 percent as a human, while also maintaining His 100 percent divinity (Philippians 2:6-8). In Jesus’ humanity, I notice His kind interactions with others, like when He welcomed the little children. Jesus also exemplified humility, wisdom, and love. These are characteristics into which I want to grow. I want to become more kind, humble, wise, and loving.
What about you? Of the characteristics of Jesus, in which ones do you desire growth?
Where am I most stretched in becoming like Christ? Sometimes when I drive, I feel invited to extend grace to other drivers – it stretches me. When offering spiritual direction and soul care, I notice my need to depend solely upon God for wisdom and insight. He teaches me that He remains reliable and faithful to provide what is necessary in the moment. The last few months have been exhausting, so opportunities to extend kindness and love in my weariness challenge and grow me.
God grows me in my relationships, work, community, and service. What about you? Where are you most stretched into becoming more like Jesus?
How am I becoming? While God is the transforming agent, I must choose to submit myself to the Truth of the Word. Times for studying the Bible help me become more like Jesus. I just finished studying Proverbs which overflows with wisdom for daily living and growth in the fear of the Lord. Additionally, the practices of silence, prayer, journaling, and community are also important to my journey of becoming more like Christ. These everyday habits help me attune to God’s Spirit within me and show me how to think and act like Jesus (1 John 3:2).
What about you? What practices do you engage to help you become more like Christ? Is it time to set aside designated space to let the Holy Spirit shape you and lead you?
Why do I want to become more like Jesus? God designed us not to live for ourselves, but for His glory. When we live different from the ways of the world and commit to walk in the ways of God, the world takes note. Jesus summons us to let His light shine through us because when we do, others observe our good and different manner of living and this brings glory to God (Matthew 5:16). I want to point others to Jesus by the way I live. I want to know God in the depths of my being and live according to His will for me. I long for communion with my Savior and want that for others. These are a few of the reasons why I want to become more like Jesus.
What about you? Why do you want to become like and live like Jesus? When others interact with you, is it apparent that you love and follow Jesus?
Just as the pieces and parts of the furniture we’ve assemble became whole under our care, we become whole under the loving care of God. His plan for each of us involves shaping us and transforming us to become more like Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Live attentive to who you are becoming, what you’re becoming, how you’re becoming, where becoming seems hard, and why becoming like Jesus needs to be of utmost importance to the way you live.
May we each become a little more like Jesus one choice at a time. Enjoy the journey of becoming like our Lord Jesus Christ. He makes us whole.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Romans 8:29 – For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.
1 John 3:2 – Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Randy Frazee. Think, Act, Be Like Jesus: Becoming a New Person in Christ Grand Rapids, MI. 2014.
Charles Swindall. So, You Want To Be Like Christ?: Eight Essentials to Get You There. Nashville, TN. 2015.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Passion. More Like Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bKxYbVCXoQ
Reba McEntire. Back to God.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bpLKJ4egQM
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
April 27 – Brookfield, WI
Fuel Conference – Wisconsin’s Marketplace Ministry Conference for Christian Business Owners and Executive Leaders.