GOD'S DESIRE FOR SELF EXTENSION

"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Genesis 1:26, NKJV)

Devotion 8 of 10

MORE ON TRANSFORMED BY THE SPIRIT

In the third chapter of Second Corinthians, the Spirit is likening Jesus to Moses, and the people of God to the Israelites. Moses' face glowed, but Israel was not able to look at it--it was blinding to them. Because of this, Moses placed a veil over his face, hiding the blinding glow that was there.

However, this is not how it works in Jesus Christ. Instead of Jesus covering His face, or hiding His character from us, He shows us what He is really like in His Word. He, so to speak, uncovers His face. When you are born again, you are made able to concentrate upon Jesus without being hurt or discouraged by the view. You are able to think long about what the Lord is really like--to consider what He has done, what He has said, and where He is now.

The thing that happens as we consider, or ponder, the Lord Jesus Christ is marvelous. As we think about what Jesus has done, and is doing, for us, the Holy Spirit goes to work. He transforms, or changes, us into Christ's likeness in those contemplations. That is another way of saying we become like Him. Gradually, or in stages, His qualities are found in us. Scripture states it this way: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor 3:18, NKJV).

The Word of God calls these results the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23). As we become more like Jesus, we become less like the world. Heaven becomes more important, and earth becomes less important.

And why is all of this happening? It is to make us suitable to be with the Lord forever, working with Him in ways unimaginable to us now. Stated another way, the Holy Spirit is orienting us for heaven. He is acquainting us with the heavenly way of doing things by making us like the Lord of heaven and earth. It is important to emphasize this transformation takes place ONLY as we focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is possible to spent the majority of our time thinking about what we should do, or even what we want to do. There is nothing transforming about that kind of thinking--at least not transformation into the Lord's likeness. Salvation is Christ- centered, not human centered. It is saturated with the values of heaven, not those of the world. A religion that does not have Jesus at the center is like a house without a foundation.

Satan has a goal, and he is good at achieving it. It is to make us UNLIKE Jesus by tempting us to look at things the way he does. The Holy Spirit also has a goal, and He is better at achieving it. He is making us like Jesus by shining the light on what Christ has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. Those who do not "resist" the consideration of Christ Jesus will find themselves being changed, altered, and transformed by the Spirit of God.

Allow me to be practical on this matter. When you think about death, think of Christ's death. When you consider life, consider Christ's life. If you want to ponder achievements, ponder His achievements. If you want to major on what others have said, major on what Jesus Christ said. Adjust your mental focus on Jesus--like you would focus a camera on a subject you wanted framed in a picture and placed on your wall. Believe me, you will be changed, and God will be extended in you. One more thing: you will not be disappointed when you see Him!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, give me the grace to concentrate on Him!

-- TOMORROW: CONFIDENCE IN BELIEVERS --