For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. (Romans 8:29 KJV)

A few weeks back. I told a friend that I don’t know what God wants from me. I was discouraged and tired of trying to open a door. That for the time being God is keeping closed. I expected her response to be something like. Pray about it. In time he will reveal it to you. Or trust in God. No, her reply to me was Aqua he wants Romans 8:29 from you. He is trying to conform you into the image of his Son. Wow! How true is that? We tend to fail to realize that even in our trials and test that God uses that. Not only so that we may trust in him, but so that it may also conform us into the very likeness of Jesus! To conform means to be similar or the same as something. When you read up in verse 28 which is a very familiar if not popular passage of scripture. Which tells us And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose. So the question is this. How is all things working for our good (those who love God)? The how is because everything that we go through. Whether it’s the good, the bad, or the ugly. It’s purpose is to conform us or make us into the likeness of the image of Jesus. An image according to Merriam-Webster is an exact likeness. Even when we don’t understand why we go through what we go through. I need for you to understand this. It is so that we may be made in to the very likeness of Christ. Even when it doesn’t feel like it or look it. The door that I was telling you about earlier that I was trying to open but for the moment God was keeping shut. Was for me to get a job. So, that I may be able to get back on my feet. I am in a season where I literally lost everything but my faith and relationship with God. It is in this season however that God is molding me to be like his Son. He is teaching me patience in this season. He is deeping my prayer life by being conscious and praying more so for the needs of others. He is teaching me how to serve the needs of those around me. How is God conforming you in your hard times into the image of Christ?

I realized that as I was preparing this. That we all will be conformed to something. In Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul tells us. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV). Paul tells us that we should not be conformed to this world. Another meaning for the word conformed is to do what other people do, to behave in a way that is accepted by most people. Paul is telling us not to take on the likeness of this world. We shouldn’t do the things that they do. Or say the things which they say. Get this one we shouldn’t even believe in the things that they believe. For example the world sees nothing wrong with fornication, adultery or homosexuality or lascivious living. The world will tell you that it’s ok live it up. The world will tell you that God is just a myth. The world will lie to you. Paul however, tells us that we should be transformed which means to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of. This transformation is to begin in our minds in our thought patterns. We can’t change our actions and our attitudes. Until we first change our thoughts. We renew our thoughts in the word of God. Paul tells us so that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. In other words when we renew our minds in the Word of God. We discover what His perfect will is. We can’t discover that perfect will out of His Word.

As I mentioned earlier. We will all conform to something in this life. We will either be conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ and become more like him in our walk and daily lives. Or we conform into the image of this world. Which in essence is conforming to the image of Satan. When we’re conformed into the image of Christ you must know that it comes with rejection and you may be ridiculed. It also comes however, with the assurance of eternal life because of the faith that you put in Christ for salvation. Or you can choose to conform to this world which comes with acceptance, but at what price? A life without Christ. I pray that you choose to be conformed to the image of Christ.

God’s blessings,

Aqua.