In the devotional, In Touch, by Charles Stanley this week, he wrote, “… Authentic Christianity is about becoming rather than doing.”
I was struck by that idea because, as he also wrote, “Probably the greatest obstacle to understanding God’s purpose for brokenness is this: Many think of Christianity as a series of activities. We pray. We read the Bible. We go to church. We worship. We tithe. We do and do and do…”
The devotional went on to say, “The life of faith that God designed involves receiving Jesus into our heart and allowing Him to change us so we become increasingly more like Him.”
1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.”
“This realization will change our perspective on the heartaches we must endure… When we recognize that the Christian life is about Jesus’ persistent work of “re-creation” in us, then the role of brokenness makes more sense. It’s the process the Lord uses to strip away obstacles to our spiritual growth.
God doesn’t want to be Lord of most of our life, He wants to be Lord of all of our life. He wants us to become more like Him each day: loving, giving, serving, forgiving, teaching others about Christ by our life of love. So, we must BECOME more Christ-like by opening our hearts to Him and asking God to reveal to us anything that hampers that growth.
We can be so busy listening to all the instructions to be cool, aim high, and see the world that we forget to just BE… Just appreciate every moment as a precious gift from God, a chance to reflect, an opportunity to let God know how grateful we are for each day we are given.
Yes, I CAN become… I can become more like Christ… I’m just sitting here thinking about HOW He would like me to BE. What can I do to become more like Him? If it’s about BECOMING instead of DOING, how can I become without doing? Hmmm…
Great pondering (and was charmed by your pose at the end). Sometimes I get analytical – cause and effect. If I become more like Him, I will desire to Do more out of sheer love and gratefulness. If I do more out of obligation it won’t make me more like Him. Becoming like Him should be the cause. Doing should be the effect. At least that is how my mind is sorting it out currently.
Jan, I have long appreciated the wisdom found in the teachings of Charles Stanley. Thanks so much for sharing his devotional thoughts. At the heart of our faith relationship is our Father’s grace. The deeper we drink of it, the deeper our faith sinks its roots.
Comments on: "I Can Become" (7)
Uplifting thoughts The Incredible picture is excellent
Thank you, Derrick. Which picture did you think was incredible?
The one that has the word Incredible across the blue garment
Great pondering (and was charmed by your pose at the end). Sometimes I get analytical – cause and effect. If I become more like Him, I will desire to Do more out of sheer love and gratefulness. If I do more out of obligation it won’t make me more like Him. Becoming like Him should be the cause. Doing should be the effect. At least that is how my mind is sorting it out currently.
Good sorting, Peter! Sending love ❤️ your way.
Jan, I have long appreciated the wisdom found in the teachings of Charles Stanley. Thanks so much for sharing his devotional thoughts. At the heart of our faith relationship is our Father’s grace. The deeper we drink of it, the deeper our faith sinks its roots.
Thank you for your thoughtful response! ❤️👌🏽