Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Day 22. Created to Become Like Christ

Day 22. Created to Become Like Christ

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”—Robert Browning

Placing ourselves in God’s hands without knowing His plan for us is a scary thing. Besides, we will lose control. Isn’t that the reason so few choose to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us?

Yet God has a plan for us completely beyond our comprehension, beyond our grasp. We are incapable of reaching it ourselves let alone understanding it. Listen to this incredulous thought: God has in mind that we will take on the character of Christ!

Not only that, God is clever enough to know that it is something that we cannot do for ourselves. It is God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that transforms us. God before us, God beside us, God within us that keeps a vision in front of us, models life beside us, and nudges us from within us to choose what is good and noble and perfect. “Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all our needs.”

We simply need to give up control. We can control our own destiny by saying "No." We can submit to God's destiny by saying "Yes." Submission, even when the plan is not clear to us, is called obedience.

When philosophers were wrestling with the question, “What is Christianity’s greatest contribution to religious thought?” CS Lewis, entering the room late, said, “That’s easy. It’s grace.”

Grace to you,

Rick

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