"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." I Corinthians 3:17-18
"Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days." - Proverbs 19:20
Do you ever feel as if you have a long way to go to become what you were meant to be?
I do. Often. Many days I wake up and feel like the hare after his nap - fuzzy, lazy and inadequate. My heart's desire is to look at myself in the mirror and be uniformly proud of what I see. But I know I can't accomplish that by myself.
Thankfully, our God also desires for us to become what he intended us to be. Like a loving father, His desire is not passive. The Lord takes an active role in shaping us to his pleasure by disciplining us to bear his Son's image.
Solomon advises meting out and accepting discipline three different times in chapter 19. There are many other proverbs in which he lays out the benefits of using the rod and refusing to spoil your children. Discipline is consistent with love and good parenting.
I think that part of God's plan for us is to shape us into his image, a continuation of our creation. Our toils and struggles arise as we disobey or show some character flaw that needs to be chiseled off. We are being continually chiseled by our loving Father.
Paul gives us a glimpse of the goal of this lifelong process in v. 18, when he refers to our transformation into the image of Jesus. Thank God for our discipline.
Be transformed a little more today, men. Be proud of your reflection, because you bear the holy image of your heavenly Father.
Powell
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son Whom He receives.
ReplyDeleteHebrews 12:10 For they disciplined for a few days as it seemed good to them; but He, for what is profitable that we might partake of His holiness.
Holiness is God's nature . To partake of God's holiness is to partake of His nature (2 Pet. 1:4). The Hebrew believers were common due to their remaining in Judaism, they needed to be sanctified so they could partake of God's holy nature. For that purpose persecution was aroused to discipline them that they might be sanctified from the common. (footnote)
I agree with Nate. Our being disciplined by the Lord through our circumstances/environments is for a very positive purpose. In Romans 8:28 all things (positive and negative) work together for the good. The good is in verse 29 which is to conform us to the image of Christ. Praise the Lord we are in this daily, life-long process of being transformed to His image be simply beholding this most precious One!
BW
Amen and amen!
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