There is a lot of talk about image these days. The Entertainment Industries, Big Business, and the Political Arena: they all want to portray certain images to us ordinary people. And many want to be just like them. We hear about young people making their way to Hollywood or Nashville, New York or Washington D.C. to find their place in the world. They want to be famous and have an image of success and of doing great things.
What image do you want to portray?
Jesus came to portray the Father to us. Philip said to Him, ”Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:8-9. Jesus was the image of the Father!
So, who or what do you want to look like? Remember that in the beginning God created mankind in His own image. But one day during my devotional time, it struck me how unbelievable it seems that Almighty God, the Creator and the Ruler of the Universe wants me to look like Him! What an honor! What Grace! “YOU want me to look like YOU?” That seems so hard to understand that the Lord would want us to look like Him and act like Him. But He does! And we can imitate Him, but it’s a Process! It doesn’t happen quickly or easily.
He starts the process the minute we give our lives to Him and surrender our will to His. It’s called Sanctification. It’s setting us apart from the world and we start walking in the direction of holiness. But, like I just said, it’s not easy and it’s not quick.
Jesus looked like His Father, and the religious leaders of the time didn’t like it or understand it. One day they came to Jesus for the purpose of trying to trap Him in a technicality so that they could discredit Him. They said: “Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus knew what they were up to, and He said, “Bring Me a denarius and let Me look at it.” And looking at it, He said, “Whose image is this?” The answer was, “Caesar’s”. Then Jesus answered, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (You can read about that in Mark 12:13-17).
How simple that sounds! Give God what belongs to God! Do you belong to God? Do you look like Him? Have you truly given Him YOU? Have you surrendered and allowed Him to change you?
We all know the scripture in Romans 8:28. It says, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purposes”. Have you ever wondered what His purposes are for you? You might think about your ministry or your career or some other desire of your heart, but what is His purposes really about?
Let’s read verse 29. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son”.
“Conformed to the image of His Son”. He wants us to look like Jesus! And He is not talking about our physical appearance. He is looking at our souls, the way we think, speak, and act. Are we trying to portray Jesus in our daily lives, our attitudes and motives, our actions and reactions? I know, it’s not easy. It’s hard and it seems like it takes forever! And the truth is that though it may not take forever, it takes a lifetime!
So, don’t give up when it seems hard. The enemy doesn’t want you to succeed, but God does. So, let’s read God’s Word and stand on it and let’s listen to the Holy Spirit and do our best to follow.
