Predestined to Conform

Romans 8:29

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

One of the primary purposes of God as “The Potter” (see January 11 & 12, and August 10 devotionals) is to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus. The Word today tells us that Jesus is the “firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

The Father’s ultimate intention is for the family of God to bear a striking resemblance to the firstborn in the family, Jesus, the “second man” (see 1 Corinthians 15:45-48). Part of the Holy Spirit’s work in us through the ongoing process of sanctification is to remove anything that does not look like Christ.

When Michelangelo was asked how he did his statues, he said, “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.”

When we are reborn into the family of God, we are born of incorruptible seed by faith in the Son through the Word of God (see 1 Peter 1:22-24); so the source material is there for the Holy Spirit to work with to start the process of conforming us to the image of Jesus!

Our job, as we previously learned about being moldable clay for the potter, is to submit to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Try to make His job easier!

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Thank the Father for taking you into His family. Tell Him you want to be more like Jesus today, and listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

You are predestined to conform!

Dive Deeper: Study Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 15:45-48; 1 Peter 1:22-24; Jeremiah 18:1-6.