Today’s Scripture:
Galatians 4:19 NIV
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
When Christ is formed in us we become like Christ in our character and our lifestyle. However, when Christ is being formed in us, most of the time we don't look like Christ, we don't act like Christ. The things we do and say and how we live doesn't reflect the formation of Christ in us, but you are becoming. Christ being formed in you requires Patience. It requires Sacrifice, it requires Self-Denial, and it requires Trust.
Patience:
Patience because it's a process, no one gets there overnight. Give yourself a chance, give yourself time to become, don't quit and give up on the process because you are being formed. You will mess up and the enemy will come after you to make you quit on the process but you must remain patient.
For example, a potter takes time to form and shape the clay into that which he envisioned it will become and that which he sees as a result of his time and patience in forming the clay. God is forming you and yes, right now you still live with jealousy, you are being formed, right now you still curse, but you're being formed, right now you tell lies, but you are being formed. The more patience you give yourself in the formation process the more Christ emerges.
Sacrifice:
Without sacrifice we don't become the person God has called us to be. Sacrifice is required to present our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God. What does that look like? It looks like I sacrificed my life, my desires, my emotions, my will for God's will to do what he wants me to do according to his word.
When we get to this place of sacrifice we begin to see Christ formation in us. We look like him, who for the joy that was before him endured the cross despising the shame. It will take sacrifice, time in prayer, time in the word and meditating on the Word, so that Christ becomes our all and we become like Christ.
Self-denial:
Sacrifice can only be accomplished through self-denial. Jesus denied himself and picked up his cross for us so that we could have eternal life. He said if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Jesus is not asking us to do what he didn't do. He did it for us, and he set an example. And he's saying the formation process requires that you do the same, deny yourself and take up your cross. It hurts but Christ is being formed, you could be hanging out, doing something with your time other than praying and fasting, and reading the word, but it's the formation process, Christ is being formed in you. Lean into it.
Trust:
When all is said and done, you've been patient, sacrificed, and you denied self, now you must trust him. Without trust there will be no formation of Christ. The Bible says, "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your path" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Family, trust takes time, you don't get there overnight. Therefore, the formation process of Christ being formed in you will take time because you don't trust overnight, trust comes through experiences, so as you experience things in God and with God you begin to trust him. The goal of the Christian life is to have Christ formed within, reflecting His character in our thoughts, actions, and relationships.
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