ROMANS 8:29-30 – 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 among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

THEME OF THE DAY. EVIDENCE OF CONFORMING TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS. Today’s scripture is known as the “golden chain of salvation”. It takes us through the whole of God’s plan of salvation for the repenting and believing sinner; predestination, calling, justification and glorification. Yet, we need to back up and see the purpose of the chain. When God does a work, whether creation or salvation, it is with purpose. He is never vague or disorganized and that applies to salvation. It is a work with purpose and that to make us like the Lord Jesus. And sometimes that work seems so slow and unperceivable. Yet, we may know the work is being done. God doesn’t leave us to ourselves to recognize His work in our lives of making us like His Son. Now, I know there are a lot of places to evaluate our growth in Christlikeness, but let’s just consider two. These are becoming more and more spiritual realities in my own experience. I think it is supposed to work that way too. The older we get, two things start to happen spiritually. We actually grow in humility which leads to patience realizing we really don’t have this thing called “the Christian life” all figured out. The other thing which develops is our prayer lives. We begin to see that prayer isn’t really about God being a “spiritual vending machine” and giving us what we want. It is about being with Him; knowing Him. Now, two evidences we are conforming into the image of our Lord.

First, we are growing like the Lord Jesus in being patient with people. We learn to listen more, love more, be less critical, judgmental, and don’t always have to give advice. And we learn to be quick to overlook faults, quick to forgive, quick to encourage, and never “write someone off” due to their failing us for the umpteenth time. Being patient with people, not sometimes, but all the time is a clear mark of growth in grace because no human can generate such a life of patience.

Another clear piece of evidence we are conforming into the image of Jesus will be in our prayer lives. Prayer will become a “necessity of delight”, not to get God to do something, but to enjoy Him, worship Him, and be with Him. The Christian growing like Christ will be learning to pray like Christ and the Apostle Paul. Here are examples, one from Jesus and one from Paul, which serves us well to evaluate our growth in prayer. Jesus prayed, “ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:20-24). Jesus is praying for the unity and love in His church. Do we? We will if we are growing into Christ’s likeness.

The second example is from the Apostle Paul, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:16-19). Do we pray such spiritual prayers? We will if we are growing in Christ.

Salvation is purposeful. And so is growth in Christ. Two of the clear marks we are growing to be like Him will be in our patience with people and our praying for people.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to deepen my commitment to Your work of conforming me into the image of the Lord.”

QUOTE: “Becoming like the Lord will be evidenced in the development of patience and prayer.”