Conformed to His image:

Romans 8:29

29     For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

          

            There is no doubt about it … we will become conformed to the image of Jesus. It may not look like it right now, but it will happen. That conforming comes over our lifetime. We should be coming closer and closer to that image as we grow in the Lord. He doesn’t want us to sit back and coast into Heaven. We should be allowing the Holy Spirit to have more and more control over our lives. As we do, we become more and more like Jesus’ image. We’re to be so much like Jesus that the devil can’t tell us apart. We are predestined for this!

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "This is My plan for you … that you be as My Son was; that your life shine forth as His. I planned this long ago before there was a world. We desired this, and I set about to bring it into existence. I will make it happen. I will bring you into the same grace as was His. Your life will conform to that of His. You will be like Him in all ways. I have decreed it, and it will come to pass in time if you allow Me to work in you the way that I worked in Him.”

            43. I am predestined to become conformed to the image of Jesus. I will become just like He is. I have no doubt that it will happen because God predestined it.

We are as He is:

           

1 John 4:17

17     By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

     

            Did you notice that? Just as Jesus is, so also are we … in this world! I know some groups believe we should just try to hold on till we get to Heaven … that we can’t improve beyond where we are already in this world. This says differently. We can have this here and now. We can also be confident when Judgment Day comes. We won’t have to cower in a corner. We can stand with our heads held high. We are just like Him.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "What is My desire for you? It is to be as My Son. Look at His example in My Word. What He was, you are. Don’t think that I want anything less than the best in your life. I want you to be the best possible. My plans for you are as good as My plans for Him. They are different, but they are just as good for you. Don’t try to run from My desires for your life. They are only for your good. I want you to be an example to those around you so that they will want to know Me.”

            42. Just as Jesus is, so also am I in this world … not in the sweet bye-and-bye … now!

Measure of grace given:

Ephesians 4:7

7     But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

     

            How could we need any more grace than that? Any time we need God’s grace in our lives, we have all that we could possibly use. It was given to each one of us. It wasn’t just for those who minister, but also for you and me. Don’t ever feel like you’re not good enough. Also, don’t think that just because you are not in full time ministry that means that you have been shorted on God’s grace. You have more than enough to meet your every need.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have given you all that you will ever need. It is not because you did anything to make yourself worthy. That is what My grace is all about. You do not have to earn it. I give it freely to you. You have experienced only a taste of the grace that I have for you. It is marvelous beyond compare. There is no way to explain how it works. You must receive of it for yourself. I will give it to you in abundance … more than enough to meet your every need.”

            41. I was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. That is sufficient grace to meet all my needs.