Greetings, dear friends!Praise God for the wonderful day God has given us! Thank God for one more opportunity to be filled with His Word! We are still discussing God’s philosophy of change. We established that God desires us to be like His Son Jesus Christ. As we allow God to change us, the character of Christ can be seen in us more and more. And as we allow God to change us, the life of Jesus will flow through us.Jesus is our model and the example that we should follow. If you want to know how much change you still need, then compare yourself with Jesus and not with other people. When we compare ourselves with other people, then according to the Bible we do not show wisdom.
«For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise» (2 Corinthians, 10:12).
It is possible that you look like a hero against the others around you, and you may think that you don’t need any changes. The problem is that you compare yourself to the wrong crowd. You should compare yourself to Jesus; the only reason to imitate people is when they follow and imitate Christ. That is what Apostle Paul has pointed out in many of his epistles: «Therefore be imitators of God as dear children» (Ephesians, 5:1).
«Therefore I urge you, imitate me» (1 Corinthians, 4:16).
«Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ» (1 Corinthians, 11:1).
«Brethren, join in following my example, and not those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern» (Philippians, 3:17).
God foreknew and predestined us to grow into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. «And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren» (Romans, 8:28-29).
God also knows that we really do not want to change; that is why it says in the 28th verse that God does all things for our good. What does the word “all” include? Everything that is happening in your life right now! God wants to reach a certain goal; and in order to do that He uses even our circumstances. He allows particular difficult situations to happen to us in order to change and transform us and our character, to make us more like Jesus.God allows and uses even those things in your life that – according to your understanding – bother you or even are able to destroy you. None of these things are a problem to God, because He knows how to turn all of them for your good.The famous passage from Romans (8:28-29) talks about all things working for the good to those who love God and are called. All of our circumstances – good, not so good and even unfavourable – are used by God for our good. What good is it? God uses them to change our character and to make us more like His Son Jesus Christ.The spiritual growth of a Christian consists of many inward changes; it is the measure of changes in our character; it is growing into Christ’s likeness. Every true change starts within the person, on the inside; only afterwards it shows outwardly. Those difficult situations and circumstances that you have been experiencing and complaining about will not change, unless you change your attitude towards them. Every unfavourable situation that you face is meant to cause the necessary changes in you; they won’t go away until they do the work in you. That is the reason why God allows them in our lives. Through these difficult circumstances and conditions God changes us and makes us more like Jesus. «And we know that all things work together for good» (Romans, 8:28).
God bless you! Till tomorrow!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
