SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2019 THEME: CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE?

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2019

THEME: CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE?  

MEMORISE:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  2 Corinthians 3:18

READ: 2 Corinthians 3:6-18

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

MESSAGE

The purpose of redemption is to transform us into the image and likeness of God. The Holy Spirit reveals this to us in Romans 8:29, where He says:

“ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

This has been God’s desire from the very beginning (Genesis 1:26-27). Soon after creation, the serpent lured Adam and eve into sin and they fell, thereby rejecting goodliness and embracing worldliness with its devilish undertones. To redeem us to Himself, God sent His Beloved Son to be the Savior of the world (John 4:14). Through His sacrifice, God’s salvation is freely made available to all. Those who genuinely receive His salvation become partners of His divine nature and are expected to follow in His footsteps through their lifestyles (2 Peter 1:4, 1 peter 2:21). In essence, God is calling all mankind to repent from their evil way and put on a new man, who is created after God in holiness and righteousness (Ephesians 4:24).

They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. Psalm 135:16-18

It is clear from these verses that God knows that worshipers take after the God or gods they worship. He therefore ordained that His worshipers should be conformed to the image of His Son, so that they may worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24). The essence of Christian fellowship therefore is to be transformed to the image of the Almighty God through Jesus Christ His Son, who is set before humanity as the model of the redeemed life. Understanding the nature of God and obeying His commandments are keys to living this transformed life. As we behold the glory of God in the place of worship and personal fellowship, we are transformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ in faith, obedience and total submission to God’s will. To be Christ-like is not a mere human effort to imitate Jesus; rather, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer submitted to His Lordship, making him or her more like Jesus in faith, sanctification, holiness, evangelism and the work of ministry.

PRAYER POINT:

Holy Spirit divine, I yield to your work of transformation in my life, help me to confirm completely to the image of Jesus Christ in character and glory in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  John 3-4

Isaiah 36:4-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.

1.While passing thro' this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life's a book before their eyes,
They're reading it thro' and thro'
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

Refrain

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain