In Touch - May 14, 2005

In Touch Daily Devotional 
by Dr. Charles Stanley

Saturday May 14, 2005

God’s Goal for my Life

Romans 8:28-30

As believers, we each have an individual purpose set by God, but we are also part of a universal goal that He established for His children: conformity to the likeness of Jesus Christ. There are those who falsely believe they become more like Jesus by performing many good works, donating plenty of money, and saying more prayers. But biblically, the goal is for God’s Son express His life through Christians so that our outward conduct, conversation, and character reflect Him. We cannot transform through self-effort;  rather, we must bring body, soul, mind, and spirit into subjection of Jesus Christ’s indwelling presence.

God employs every circumstance of our life toward His goal of shaping us into Christ-likeness. He uses the events of each day for our good, but we must be wise enough to apply the lessons found in blessings and hurts. Though we may wish to avoid painful situations, God is not concerned about our ease, comfort, and pleasure. He is focused on the finished product.

The last step of our conformation affects our physical being and appearance. God promised to transform “the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Philippians 3:21). He foreknew the choice we would make to follow Him so He marked—or predestined—us as His own before our birth. During our lifetime, He called and justified us. Glorification comes at the end of our life, but the Romans passage uses the past tense, glorified. As far as God is concerned, our transformation is a finished contract. We will reach heaven conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

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