ROMANS 8:29 – 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.

THEME OF THE DAY. ASKING AND ANSWERING THE HARD QUESTION. I picked up the magazine off the coffee table. I am familiar with the publication, but normally don’t read it cover to cover. However, there was an article that jumped off the page to me. Its title did its job. It caught my attention and that gave way to reading it. The article also provided the question directing the theme of today’s nugget. It read “Why Aren’t We more like Jesus?” It is an important question we each should take time to consider but before we do, here is how the article started. Let it do the same level of “heart surgery” it did to me.

I decided to become a minister in a therapist’s office. As a new Christian and mental health counselor, I was startled by the seemingly endless stream of evangelical Christians coming to our practice who shared one thing in common: they didn’t look anything like Jesus. What especially troubled me was the fact there didn’t seem to be any relationship between the number of years someone had attended church and their character transformation. How was it possible to be a Christian for years, even decades without taking on the attitudes, thoughts, and actions of Jesus? Several questions soon became irrepressible. Why were so many of my good Christian clients not truly good? Why weren’t years of church attendance resulting in Christlikeness? And why weren’t Christians finding substantial life-change in their churches? (taken from Revive: A publication of Life Action Ministries, volume 50, issue 1, article titled, Why aren’t we more like Jesus? written by Del Fehsenfeld III).

I immediately thought about my own walk with the Lord and what I have observed in Christians over fifteen years of pastoral ministry. The thoughts were this . . .. “Am I becoming more like Jesus?” and “Am I observing Christians becoming more like Jesus?” These are extremely important self-examination questions. Why? Two reasons.

First, becoming like Jesus is the only true evidence we are Christians. In today’s scripture, we are given the purpose of salvation – conformity to the image of Christ. It isn’t our conduct that verifies we are believers. It is conformity to Jesus. We must ask God to probe deep into our lives to either affirm this work of conformity or not. Being a professing Christian for x number of years does not make one a Christian. I fear there are way too many people making professions of faith in Christ yet there is no noticeable change in them of becoming more like Jesus. Don’t be afraid of this self-evaluation. God saves us to remake us. Let Him tell us the truth of our spiritual condition before Him, but don’t be discouraged if the progress in becoming like Jesus is slow. Be encouraged it is happening, yet, be concerned if it isn’t. Where there is no growth, there is no life.

Second, God has given us everything we need for this work of conformity to the image of His Son; His Word, His Spirit, and His church. And here is something we must do if we are going to become like Jesus – be in a church that preaches and teaches the whole Bible with the chief emphasis on beholding Christ, knowing Him, and being conformed into His Holy image. Don’t be in a place that primarily focuses on conduct, how to live, be a better this or that, or even exhorts to “go, go, go” in Christian service. Be in a church that stresses the supremacy of Christ, separation from the world to be close to Christ and to grow more and more into His image. This is the purpose of the church; to equip is to become like Christ so we may impact our world for Christ.

So, the hard question – ask it – of yourselves, within our families, and among ourselves in our churches – “Why aren’t we more like Jesus?” and when God tells us, let’s work together to ensure we are becoming like Jesus – the goal and work of our salvation.

PRAYER: “Father, help me understand my Christian life is to be a walk of conformity not mere conduct.”

QUOTE: “The only true evidence a person is a Christian is a progressing growth into the likeness of Jesus.”