Emotional and spiritual struggles of the heart are evidences God is conforming us into the image of Christ.
Inner struggles are one evidence God is attacking our idols. He is working to will and accomplish His good pleasure… making us more like Jesus. If we never have heart struggles, that are gut wrenching and deeply convicting, there is a good chance we’re illegitimate and not true children of God (Heb 12:7-8). If you’ve read my blog you know I call what God works on in us our “Blind spots.”
No Christian alive IS conformed to the image of Christ… yet. No Christian is where they should be in godliness and holiness. Every Christian can increase in love for others. We don’t realize how far we are from conformity to Christ in godliness, holiness, and love. Thus GOD takes the active role in doing His work IN us to conform us to Christ.
The process of being conformed by The Holy Spirit isn’t fun a form of discipline. Actually, there is pain when God formatively disciplines us. One comfort we have in the pain is that God’s purpose is for us to “share in His holiness.” This much we know… God does NOT leave to chance His children becoming more like Jesus! God predestines Christian’s holiness…
Phil 2:13 It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Note: God’s “good pleasure” is to conform Christians to Christ)
Ro 8:29 Those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son… (Note #1: WHAT God predestines in Romans 8:29 is Christian’s conformity to His Son Jesus! Note #2: The way God conforms is by “causing all things to work together for good” {Conformity to Christ}).
Ro 8:28 We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Note: “Good” is conformity to Christ… to share in His holiness!)
With that stated, here are four passages I suggest we ask God to work in us:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1 Cor 11:22 Do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who…
Gal 2:14 (Paul) When I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel…
1 Cor 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Homework: Ask God through prayer…. “Oh God, conform me to Your Son’s image! Please destroy my idols… whatever they are! Do Your work in me that I may share in Your holiness! Help me so that I work with you to be conformed to the image of Your Son!”