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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
YOU WERE CREATED
TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST
Let your roots grow down into Christ and draw up nourishment1 from him, see that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth. Colossians 2:7 (LB)
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Created to Become Like Christ
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided2 from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.... We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. Romans 8:29 (Msg)
We look at this son and see God's original purpose in everything created. Colossians 1:15 (Msg)
You were created to become like Christ.
From the very beginning, God's plan has been to make you like his Son, Jesus. This is your destiny and the third purpose of your life. God announced this intention at Creation: "Then God said, `Let us make human beings in our image and likeness3."
In all of creation, only human beings, are made "in God's image." This is a great privilege and gives us dignity. We don't know all this phrase covers, but we do know some of the aspects it includes: Like God, we are spiritual beings-our spirits are immortal4 and will outlast5 our earthly bodies; we are intellectual-we can think, reason, and solve problems; like God, we are relational-we can give and receive real love; and we have a moral consciousness-we can discern right from wrong, which makes us accountable to God.
The Bible says that all people, not just believers, possess part of the image of God; that is why murder and abortion6 are wrong. But the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that we have lost.
What does the full "image and likeness" of God look like? It looks like Jesus Christ! The Bible
says Jesus is "the exact likeness of God," "the visible image of the invisible God," and "the exact
representation of his being."
People often use the phrase "like father, like son" to refer to family resemblance. When people see my likeness in my kids, it pleases me. God wants his children to bear his image and likeness, too. The Bible says, "You were ... created to be like God, truly righteous and holy."
Let me be absolutely clear: You will never become God, or even a god. That prideful lie is Satan's oldest temptation. Satan promised Adam and Eve that if they followed his advice, "ye shall be as gods." Many religions and New Age philosophies still promote this old lie that we are divine or can become gods.
This desire to be a god shows up every time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and people around us. But as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn't want you to become a god; he wants you to become godly-taking on his values, attitudes, and character. The Bible says, "Take on an entirely8 new way of life-a God fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately9 reproduces his character in you."
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.
God wants you to develop the kind of character described in the beatitudes of Jesus,' the fruit of the Spirit, Paul's great chapter on love, and Peter's list of the characteristics of an effective and productive life. Every time you forget that character is one of God's purposes for your life, you will become frustrated10 by your circumstances. You'll wonder, "Why is this happening to me? Why am I having such a difficult time?" One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult! It's what enables us to grow. Remember, earth is not heaven!
Many Christians12 misinterpret Jesus' promise of the "abundant life" to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization13 of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. In a word, they expect the Christian11 life to be easy. They expect heaven on earth.
This self-absorbed perspective treats God as a genie14 who simply exists to serve you in your selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment. But God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely15 disillusioned16 or you will live in denial of reality.
Never forget that life is not about you! You exist for God's purposes, not vice7 versa. Why would God provide heaven on earth when he's planned the real thing for you in eternity17? God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven.
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.
GOD'S SPIRIT WORKING IN YOU
It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you. The Bible says, "As the Spirit
of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification, and it is the third purpose of your life on earth.
You cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives. The Bible says, "God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."
Mention "the power of the Holy Spirit," and many people think of miraculous18 demonstrations19 and intense emotions. But most of the time the Holy Spirit's power is released in your life in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or can't feel. He often nudges us with "a gentle whisper."
Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us. "For this is the secret: Christ lives in you."' How does this happen in real life? Through the choices we make. We choose to do the right thing in situations and then trust God's Spirit to give us his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it. Since God's Spirit lives inside of us, these things are always available for the asking.
We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work. Throughout the Bible we see an important truth illustrated20 over and over: The Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith. When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded21 only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience22 and faith.' Obedience unlocks God's power.
God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.
The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed, a building, and a child growing up. Each metaphor23 requires active participation24: Seeds must be planted and cultivated, buildings must be built-they don't just appear-and children must eat and exercise to grow.
While effort has nothing to do with your salvation25, it has much to do with your spiritual growth. At least eight times in the New Testament26 we are told to "make every effort" in our growth toward becoming like Jesus. You don't just sit around and wait for it to happen.
Paul explains in Ephesians 4:22-24 our three responsibilities in becoming like Christ. First, we must choose to let go of old ways of acting27. "Everything ... connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it!"
Second, we must change the way we think. "Let the Spirit change your way of thinking." The Bible says we are "transformed" by the renewing of our minds. The Greek word for transformed, metamorphosis (used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18), is used today to describe the amazing change a caterpillar28 goes through in becoming a butterfly. It is a beautiful picture of what happens to us spiritually when we allow God to direct our thoughts: We are changed from the inside out, we become more beautiful, and we are set free to soar to new heights.
Third, we must "put on" the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits. Your
character is essentially29 the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually30 act. The Bible says, "Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.'
Your character is essentially
the sum of your habits.
God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us. All three are indispensable for character development. God's Word provides the truth we need to grow, God's people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christlikeness. If you study and apply God's Word, connect regularly with other believers, and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, I guarantee you will become more like Jesus. We will look at each of these growth ingredients in the chapters ahead.
Many people assume all that is needed for spiritual growth is Bible study and prayer. But some issues in life will never be changed by Bible study or prayer alone. God uses people. He usually prefers to work through people rather than perform miracles, so that we will depend on each other for fellowship. He wants us to grow together.
In many religions, the people considered to be the most spiritually mature and holy are those who isolate31 themselves from others in mountaintop monasteries32, uninfected by contact with other people. But this is a gross misunderstanding. Spiritual maturity33 is not a solitary34, individual pursuit! You cannot grow to Christlikeness in isolation35. You must be around other people and interact with them. You need to be a part of a church and community. Why? Because true spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can't practice being like Jesus without being in relationship with other people. Remember, it's all about love-loving God and loving others.
Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life. Referring to this process, Paul said, "This will continue until we are ... mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.'
You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation36 in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won't be completed here on earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns. At that point, whatever unfinished work on your character is left will be wrapped up. The Bible says that when we are finally able to see Jesus perfectly37, we will become perfectly like him: "We can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is."
Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than he is anything else. We worry when God seems silent on specific issues such as "What career should I choose?" The truth is, there are many different careers that could be in God's will for your life. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner.
God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do.
We are human beings, not human doings. God is much more concerned about your character than
your career, because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.
The Bible warns, "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.... Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity38, God brings the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you." You must make a counter-culture decision to focus on becoming more like Jesus. Otherwise, other forces like peers, parents, coworkers, and culture will try to mold you into their image.
Sadly, a quick review of many popular Christian books reveals that many believers have abandoned living for God's great purposes and settled for personal fulfillment and emotional stability. That is narcissism39, not discipleship40. Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate41 responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.
God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do.
DAY TWENTY-TWO THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE
Point to Ponder: I was created to become like Christ.
Verse to Remember: "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." 2 Corinthians 3:18b (NLT)
Question to Consider: In what area of my life do I need to ask for the Spirit's power to be like Christ today?
收听单词发音 |
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nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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outlast
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| v.较…耐久 | |
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abortion
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| n.流产，堕胎 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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genie
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| n.妖怪，神怪 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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disillusioned
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| a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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metaphor
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| n.隐喻，暗喻 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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caterpillar
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| n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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isolate
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| vt.使孤立，隔离 | |
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monasteries
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| 修道院( monastery的名词复数 ) | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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immaturity
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| n.不成熟；未充分成长；未成熟；粗糙 | |
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narcissism
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| n.自我陶醉，自恋 | |
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discipleship
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| n.做弟子的身份（期间） | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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