When I was a teenager (that would have been back in the ’60s in case you are counting 🙂 ), one of the big questions floating around-in my mind and in others-was “Why am I here?” Put another way: what is my purpose in life? In all honesty, I’m not sure that question ever goes out of style.
One of the “go to” Scripture verses for many is Roman 8:28- “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (ESV)
You can see why it is a favorite. It is reassuring to know God has His hand in all that happens. What happens may not be good-death, cancer, drastic injury, etc-but the result can bring good. God can make all things new and good.
But much to our detriment, we stop at verse 28 and fail to see verse 29. Please take a look at that verse. Getting past the big words of “foreknew” and “predestined” we find the deeper purpose: “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” It is good to believe that “all things work together” and we often stop at that, BUT we really need to see that those things which are happening are designed to conform us to Christ.
Day in and day out. Easy in and easy out. Tough in and tough out. GOD HAS A PURPOSE. Yes, it is to show His power. Yes, it is to show His strength. Yes, it is to show His will. But even more, it is to shape me and you to conform to the image of His Son.
It is just that some of us are harder to mold (Hand shoots up in the air). But He won’t stop until I am.Â
Amen, Bill! May that be our focus as we put our complete trust in God each and every day.
Blessings!
Agreed Martha. That needs to become my prayer for sure.
I too believe that our ultimate purpose is to conform to a likeness of Jesus. I do think that many often confuse what that image is. Too often, I think the focus is centered on what to do and what to avoid rather than simply being. When I stop worrying about the “how to perform” and focus on Loving God and being loved by God, life tends to work itself out.
You are so right Ryan! We do need to just “be” and stop worrying about “performing” to receive acceptance.
Yes! Thank God that He won’t stop! I think sometimes that He just walks by me because I am a bit…unpliable – hard to hold, maybe… But no, He stops and keeps kneading me! Out with the bad, in with the good.
And that is a good thing that He doesn’t stop Ed. I’m with you in that He keeps kneading.
To be conformed to the image of Christ, should be every christians attitude and goal. We will never reach perfection in that status, however the closer we draw into Christ, and more we imitate His thought patterns and behaviors the more we will leave our old shelf’s behind. We can only understand all of that by meditating and reading His words, then we will see our own attitude start to shift to be more like Christ.
You’re absolutely right Gail. We will never reach perfection, but to draw near means my thoughts, attitude and actions are more like His. I want to leave that old self behind.
I love that verse and it has encouraged me so many times. God bless you, Pastor Bill.
may we all be conformed to the image of His Son