Rev Bill

Purpose 3 in Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life is

You were created to become like Christ.

Warren begins discussing this in day 22 — Created To Become Like Christ. Beginning with the sentence: You were created to become like Christ Warren explains how becoming like Christ is our destiny as Christians.

Becoming like Christ does not mean that we will become Christ, or become God, or become a god — this was the first temptation (Genesis 3:5) and continues to be a temptation for us.Becoming like Christ means that God wants to shape our character so we can live in His ways and do His will in the world. This is to be a goal — a purpose — for our lives.

How can you become like Christ?

Warren gives 3 suggestions:

1. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work.
You must take the step of faith in your spiritual growth. This means choosing to live in God’s ways. Once you make this choice, the Holy Spirit will begin working in your life. But you must first make the choice.

Warren uses Ephesians 4:22-24 to illustrate the 3 responsibilities to becoming like Christ:

22You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24, NRSV)

Let go of old ways of acting (put away the former things),change the way you think (be renewed in the spirit of your minds), and put on the new character of Christ (clothe yourselves with the new self).

2. Let God use His word, people, and your circumstances to mile you.
You have to let God speak to you through the Bible, through other Christians, and through your circumstances. Trusting that God will speak to you in all 3 of these will help you grow in Christ.

3. Remember that it is a slow process.
You will not automatically be changed — but God can work in your life and begin the change process — and you can become more and more like Christ as you mature in Christ.

Becoming like Christ. That is God’s goal for each of us. That needs to be your goal for your life. Let God work in your life, so you can become more like Christ.

Lord — I give my life to You. Work Your will in it, so I can grow in my life to become more and more like You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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