Make Us Like Jesus

The first thing I do before I get up every morning is to look at my phone to see the weather. I thought it was going to rain this week but there are, instead, happy yellow suns all in a row on my phone.  As I look out from my window all I see are blue skies and sunshine.  I rejoice in the things that may seem small or inconsequential to some, but to me mean a pain-free day as the weather affects my daily health.  As God’s glory shines brightly from the place where I sit and write, I understand, again, that He is always bigger than my thoughts, worries and fears.

My scripture verse for today is Deuteronomy 30:16,  “If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”

I am reminded, this morning, to trust God and remain obedient to the call he has placed on my life in the place he has planted me.  I am always amazed how easy it is to wander from the center of the path.  Sometimes all it takes for me to veer off course is to experience physical pain a bit more often than I feel is just.  I begin to feel self-pity and then anger.  I am ashamed to admit this, yet I know I am not alone in these struggles.  If you can relate, I hope you will find strength in these truths I am sharing.   

As I sit in my morning place, today, I again learn what I already knew … I can’t live even one day apart from the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I am utterly lost and hopeless without Him actively carrying out His work in me.  To start a day without Him in His word and prayer is futile.  I absolutely can’t do what I do without Him.  It’s too much for me.

The only true means we have for living our lives to the glory of God is to give the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, complete control and let Him make us more like Jesus everyday.  Then, we start all over tomorrow and do it again, day after day.  One day at a time!  I heard a quote from the wonderful BBC series (Lark Rise to Candleford), “Surely we can do for one day that which seems impossible for a lifetime.”

My husband, Bill, preached a sermon series on the Holy Spirit.  The main statement I took away from yesterday was this:  “The purpose of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is simply to make us like Jesus.”  For all the social justice, good works, and thoughtful things we do, let’s always remember to never stop short of letting people know Jesus is the only way to salvation.  It’s all about Him.  He is the reason we are who we are and do what we do.

“ For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”    (I Corinthians 2:2)

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

Just Jesus,

Sheri