Becoming Like Christ
Scripture tells us that we who belong to Christ are now ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are tasked with two things: the mission of God and the character of Jesus.
The goal this passage sets out for us sounds pretty simple: to become more and more like Jesus in the way that we act, think, and feel, and to also accomplish the purposes that God has for our life. We are tasked to accomplish the work of God in the way He wants it done, following the "word of truth," or the Bible.
As Christians, we should strive to be like Christ. We want to have the same mind and attitude that He had. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 reinforces that mindset about our character. In the midst of a culture that is grumbling and fighting, act like Jesus.
In this letter, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of his past, but instead to let his past be a testament to how Jesus has changed his life. Your past is part of your story, and it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s a way that you can show others how Jesus changed your life.
The best way that we can continue to be transformed by Jesus is to continually seek His truth in Scripture. As we engage with Scripture and the Holy Spirit, our mind, heart, and hands are changed to be more like Christ.
How can you be more like Christ today? Think of a few small steps you can take to begin to shift your thinking and action towards the mission of God or the character of Christ. Ask God for His help as you seek to follow Him daily.
God Never Changes
Between the year 640 to 608 BC, the prophet Zephaniah spoke to the people of Israel. He warned them of God’s judgment, but he also reminded them of God’s promise for their future.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
We aren’t the people of Israel in 640 BC hearing this, but, as students of God’s Word, we can also find comfort in Zephaniah’s words.
We know that God came into our midst through Jesus and that He gave us His Spirit when we believed (John 1:14; Galatians 4:6). We also know that we are deeply loved by God (1 John 4:16). Paul teaches that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus when we pray to Him (Philippians 4:6-7).
So although we are not Zephaniah’s original audience, we can find comfort in knowing that God is the same throughout all generations. He is still in our...