How Are You Becoming More Like Christ?
Good Morning Friends,
Yesterday we had communion at Church. Perhaps taking communion of bread and wine, in remembrance of Jesus, is a way to learn through prayer more than study regardless of whether or not you believe the elements are actually converted into Christ’s body. Placing ourselves in a conversation with Christ in the process is I think a beneficial way of beginning to imitate Christ in the ways of a Jewish disciple, with statements, questions and responses from the teacher. So, How Are You Becoming More Like Christ?
Scripture: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.
Romans 8:29 (NRSV)
whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.
1 John 2:6 (NRSV)
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NRSV)
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.
1 John 3:2 (NRSV)
‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NRSV)
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’
John 6:52 47 (NRSV)
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
1 Corinthians 11:24 (NRSV)
Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.
John 6:57 (NRSV)
Message: There is little purpose in me telling you how Jesus lives and then expecting you to live that way. Jesus could do it, but you and I cannot through study alone. Through study we can learn that we are to be like Christ. This is the will of God and really the only way we can glorify God. So through the power of the Holy Spirit we each need to have a conversation with Christ, communion with Christ so he might teach us. Oh our conversations will be unique but there will be some similarities in the ways we are to be Christ like. The first is perhaps the most difficult for us. You see, we need to become like Christ in his Incarnation and the great mystery of grace. Once you have had that conversation and know it is a conversation you will have many times…then you can have conversations with Christ on how in turn to be like Christ in His service, like Christ in His love, like Christ in His patient endurance and like Christ in His mission. Friends, one of the biggest hurdles is to believe the Bible is inspired, that Jesus is the Word made flesh…that we are to take and eat in remembrance of Him. You see how we view and treat Jesus is critical evidence of how well we convince others of our Christian belief. When we believe the Word of God is alive, His way of communicating with us…when we believe it is powerful, not given to inform but to transform and when we believe it is penetrating, correcting our actions, and revealing, showing us what we need to see, then it becomes personal, it becomes evidence of our faith validated for others. Friends, have a conversation with the teacher of teachers. Experience the grace of communion, the grace of God’s love, the love of being a child of God growing in His family. Jesus is calling you to dine and discuss your devotion to the divine.
Pray Jesus that you invite us, with words from your own lips, to partake of the sacred mysteries. Pray when you say, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you,” we believe. Pray that in our communion with you, what is old becomes new. Pray that the next time we partake of communion we remember that you Jesus are the Bread of Life. Pray we approach the celebration and reception of the Sacraments with the deepest humility of heart and reverence, with complete faith and the intention of giving honor to God. Pray each of our souls feast on what brings us life in abundance. Pray on this Labor Day we find a saint’s rest in communion with Christ so we might continue our service efficiently. Pray we realize that like Christ we have been sent into the world with a humbling purpose of glorifying God. Pray when we take communion we glorify God from the perspective of the past, present and future…all pointing to God’s eternal, predestined, historical, eschatological purposes combining toward the same end of Christlikeness.
Pray
we live our life honoring the sacraments so as to convince others that we are Christian. Pray we never let our mind relax in attention to heavenly things. Pray we become more like Christ each day.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 