Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.—: Ephesians 5:1-2
Some time ago during a football game between Michigan State and UCLA, the score was tied at 14 with only seconds to play. Michigan State had the ball and was within field goal range. So the head coach sent in the kicker, Dave Kaiser, who kicked a field goal and won the game for Michigan State.
The coach noticed that Kaiser didn’t look at the ball after he kicked it. He learned that Kaiser had forgotten his contact lenses and couldn’t even see the goal posts. So instead of following the ball with his eyes, he spotted the referee on the sideline and watched him to see if he signaled a field goal.
Many times in the Christian life, it can be easy to be a lot like that kicker. That’s because many believers don’t feel like they can see the spiritual target they’re trying to hit (or even know what the target is), so they just live the “Christian life” as best they can and hope for a good outcome.
But our goal in spiritual growth is clear: it’s becoming more like the very nature of God. And as we’re transformed daily, we aren’t just being made into better people. We’re becoming more and more like God in our thoughts and actions.
Don’t just do your best in the spiritual life. Strive to imitate the character of God shown through Jesus Christ.That’s the target of your spiritual transformation!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would help you stay focused on the goal of your transformation: to be more like Christ in your thoughts and actions.
Questions for thought
What are some things in your life that tend to cloud your vision and sidetrack you from focusing on your spiritual growth?
Can you think of some practical things you can do that will help you stay focused on becoming more like Christ in your thoughts and actions?