If we are not ready to change and start resisting them, then we are not really ready to be a disciple of Jesus Christ

Greetings to you, dear friends! I bless you this day! I thank God for giving us His Word daily; it strengthens us and helps us move forward.Yesterday we started talking about God being more interested in the formation of our character in compliance with His standard and not in our comfortable and easy living here, on earth. The formation of such a character is not possible without making some changes and laying aside those things we are used to that make our life comfortable and pleasant.We also discussed that if we are not ready to change and start resisting them, then we are not really ready to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.What does it mean to be a disciple? A disciple is a person who is learning from someone else and knows that he needs to grow and gain some knowledge. A disciple is one who follows both the teaching and the life of his or her teacher. He imitates his teacher and later grows into the likeness of his teacher. Here is what Jesus said about it: 
 «A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher»(Luke, 6:40).
 A disciple of Christ is one who realizes that he or she isn’t perfect and needs His Teacher very much. So a disciple commits himself to the teaching, life and works of Christ, demonstrating a desire to become like Him. As disciples of Christ we learn from Him in order to change, be transformed and grow in this life.Throughout the Bible we see the principle of change and transformation working in people’s lives; it is because God desires for us to change. He is not interested in our comforts; He is interested in the character. He desires to form in us the same divine character and the same traits that were in Jesus. We can read about it the Epistle to Romans: 
 «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 desires for us to spiritually grow and become like Jesus Christ. God foreknew us and predestined us to grow into the likeness and the image of His Son Jesus Christ. It means we will have to change our lifestyle. We were born with a sinful nature; we as humans have abandoned the initial order we were created for. 
“Then God said, „Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis, 1:26).
 Now, when God has redeemed us, He wants us to change and grow into the original image – the image of God’s Son Jesus Christ. 
«And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man» (1 Corinthians, 15:49).
 The sinful image of the first Adam defiled humanity and took away God’s glory. But now God once again wants to glorify men. So God did everything possible so that a man once again could bear the heavenly image – the image of Jesus Christ.As we allow God to change us, the fruit of our lives will more and more comply with the fruit of His Spirit; the character of Christ will more and more appear in us and then the life of Jesus Christ Himself will more and more flow through us. Allow God to adorn your life by letting Him to make the necessary changes inside of you! I wish you God’s abundant blessings on this wonderful spring day!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

Support us so we can do more

We’ll get right to the point: we’re asking you to help us support our Church online minisry. We’re a nonprofit that relies on support from people like you. If everyone reading this gives €12 monthly, Spirit and Truth city Church can continue to thrive for years.

Similar Posts

  • The counselling III

    One of the ways we make ourselves qualified is to learn to listen to people, listen to their hearts and feelings; only then we can really help them.Besides, we must be ready to show the problem from a different perspective. It is not satisfactory to point out person’s problem or his or her mistakes; we must be able to highlight how his or her present lifestyle or approach to life has caused the problem.Today I would like us to look at another passage of Scripture.
  • What are the benefits of pain and suffering at the time?

    Problems draw our attention faster than anything else.Problems can become a spiritual “alarm clock” from God. This is what Job (36:15) points out: “He delivers the poor in their affliction, and opens their ears in oppression”.In times of prosperity and abundance we hear God as whispering, but in times of pain and suffering we hear Him loud and clear. God has an ability to revive our attention towards His Word and His voice. That is why Solomon says that in times of abundance we should enjoy life, but in times of suffering we should think about our life.
  • Do you expect the glory of God in your life?

    Do you believe God wants to manifest His glory in your life among all your sorrows, sufferings, pain, deficiencies and illnesses? Do you expect the glory of God in your life? Do you have that hope, that is expectation of the God´s glory? If your answer is yes, nothing can lead you astray and your peace will flow like a river at the last days. You will also become a source of hope, inspiration and comfort for the other people.Remember, whatever the horror of this world is, you can expect the glory of God in your life, since you´ve received the helmet of hope, so you know Christ lives in you, the hope of glory!
  • Transformed person is a person with the right and pure motives

    Transformed person serves other people because he loves them, not in order to benefit from them. It makes me sad when I meet people who minister because it gives them a certain benefits. It´s awfully hard to change a person who has such motives. Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus was one of this kind. For three and a half years he had stayed with Jesus, but in no way it changed him, because he had sinister motives. Judas Iscariot was greedy, money loving man. Jesus put Judas in charge with financial part of His ministry, so he had access to money and offerings. First Judas began to steal money from their pay-box, later also betrayed his Master.
  • The lordship of Jesus Christ

    The phrase „Jesus is Lord!” is quite often used by the children of God. But being the children of God, we cannot treat this concept in a superficial or religious manner. The lordship of Jesus has a deep spiritual meaning. We should not casually proclaim or declare His lordship without the correct understanding of what it really implies. God wants us today to discover for ourselves what the true essence of the lordship of Jesus is and to act accordingly.
  • What is our role and function as Christ’s ambassadors in this world

    «Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you, the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising» (Isaiah, 60:1-3).