Transformational Thought
In every child’s design, there is evidence of the parents … a father’s eyes, a mother’s nose, quirky mannerisms, and personality traits pass through to each child. Of course, whose intelligence or stubbornness they have is often up for debate! It’s easy to forget that we, too, bear not only the image of our biological parents, but also the imprint of our designer. We bear our heavenly Father’s image and likeness.
God is not like us. Yet He designed us to understand who He is, so that we can be in a wondrous relationship with Him. For this reason, He gives us the likeness of His infinite and perfect attributes and character. For example, in a limited way we understand His greatness, power, knowledge, authority, creativity, sacrifice, and love. He gives us a sense of time and eternity. He imprints us with an ability to grasp right and wrong … good, better, and best.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are attributes and characteristics that we find in God. This means that every encouragement to obey God is much more than a rule, law, or helpful hint about life. It’s a call to be what we were ultimately made to be. Becoming holy isn’t so much about “being good” as it is about “being human” … not the human of this world, but the human God created us to become, through the blood of Jesus and the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.
When we try to do life our own way, according to our own instruction manual, we become frustrated, because we aren’t fulfilling the purpose for which we were designed. It’s like using a paintbrush to change the TV channel, or using a hammer to eat dinner. When something serves its designer’s intent, then effectiveness, peace and fulfillment are plentiful. What we need is already within us. God put it there and designed us with that in mind. Sin corrupts. But Jesus’ death restores … when we move out of the way and stop hiding the inherited traits our Father passed on to us.
Today, in whatever situation you find yourself, look to Scripture to understand the Designer’s intent for your life. Know that He calls you to “be all that you can be.” Write down what you need to believe differently about God or yourself so you can become all that He designed you to be. Write about what stops you from actually believing it. Usually, a distortion about God or self is what interferes with your belief. Start to unpack the lie that keeps you from walking into the role God has written for you! WITHIN REACH helps you identify and overcome those obstacles. Whether you let your flesh perform plastic surgery to cover up your spiritual DNA or you let God’s traits shine through is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father, Teach me to know that You have designed me for better things. Teach me to understand that obedience to You is not burdensome; it’s a return to my original glorious design, my true spiritual DNA. By the power of your Spirit, remake me in the image of Christ, who bears Your image perfectly and fully. Help me to get out of Your way and fully understand my role as You grow me. These things I ask boldly, through the love and work of Christ Jesus for me and in me, and all God’s children say, AMEN!
The Truth
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27
But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:15-18
