Romans 12:9-11 (NKJV) 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate [loving] to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
It seems that since God made humans in His own image, humans have been “returning the favor” by making God into an image that best represents their own personality. Have you ever noticed that mean people have a mean god, while judgmental people have a judgmental god, lazy people have a carefree god, just anything goes? There are many kinds of people who justify their character and actions by creating God into their image, thereby nullifying the truth of the scriptures. Scripture says God is working to conform us to Christ’s image, but we are busy conforming Christ to our image.
When people meet you today, what kind of god will you represent? Will they see a loving and merciful God, patient and full of grace? Will they see a God who is willing to serve rather than be served? Remember our God in Christ washed human feet. I don’t know of any other gods that would do that. Many times it is our own unyielding personalities that become hindrances for the world to see Jesus who lives in us. They can’t see Him for us, they just see a non-conformed personality.
The bible teaches that we are to be Christ like.
Ephesians
5:1-2 (NKJV) 1
Therefore be
imitators of God as dear children.
2
And walk in
love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
The best way to behave like a
Christian is to yield ourselves to what Scripture teaches us about
Christ. When we become followers of Jesus, and His Spirit takes up
residence in us, we have access to His divine nature. 2
Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3
His divine
power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by
glory and virtue,
4
by which have
been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that
through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that
is in the world
through lust.
Conforming to His image will manifest itself as described in the scriptures we began with.
We will find ourselves on a mission, diligent, persistent about the Father’s business as we serve the Lord every day, where ever we are and whatever we are doing.
The bible says in;
2 Corinthians 5:20
(NKJV)
20
We are
ambassadors [representatives] for Christ, as though God were pleading
through us: we implore you
on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
We are to show people the correct image of a loving, merciful, gracious and forgiving God. Let others see Jesus in you!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me represent You well to everyone I meet. May others know that You are real by my actions and attitude. Teach me how to be more like You. Please empower me to love the unlovable, be kind to the unfriendly; and be merciful and gracious to those who may not know You. And above all, help me speak the truth in love. In Your name!
Invitation: What kind of God do you represent in your everyday words and actions, attitude? IfDo you need salvation? Do others see Jesus in you? Do you need to repent of your actions?
