FOODFORTHOUGHT

Copyright 2005 by Connie Giordano

>From the foundation of the world, God designed that we would walk and live as Jesus did. With each new day, we are systematically conforming to the image of Jesus or the image of Satan. Which one? It all depends on which realm we find ourselves - the realm of the Spirit or the realm of the flesh. Let's use this message as a criterion or spiritual test to determine to what extent we resemble Jesus and how far we still have to go in reaching this goal.

Romans 8:29 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."

"Conformed to the image of His Son" - This is God's perfect plan, design, and destiny for all of mankind who will be saved. The Lord Jesus is the pattern and sampler for all to imitate and follow.

Day by day, through the influence of the Word of God and His immeasurable grace, the Holy Spirit strives to accomplish this great task in each one of us. This is His sole project. With every circumstance, act of Providence, relationship, trial and season of affliction, miracle, and portion of grace poured out upon the sons and daughters of God - He works to this end.

Many journeys in our Christian walk do not make sense until we read Romans 8:29 and realize that in spite of our clouded understanding and bewilderment as to which direction God is taking us or why things are happening as such, He is busy at work in each one of us. He has one goal and aim in mind. Everything that transpires in our lives happens for one reason and one reason alone - to bring us into conformity to the image and likeness of God's Son - to make us more like Jesus.

But how do we measure up in this plan of God? Are we as sanctified as we suppose and claim? What exactly is the image of Jesus and what does it entail? How does a person act who is conformed to this Glorious image?

Let's examine some characteristics of the Lord Jesus as exemplified so beautifully and completely in the Holy Scriptures and see how we compare -

1. Lovely

Song of Solomon 5:16 - "...yea, He is altogether lovely..."

The Lord Jesus is truly and wholly lovely. That is why we long for Him. He is all that we could ever desire.

2. Holy

Luke 1:35 - " And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Acts 4:27 - "...Thy holy child Jesus, Whom Thou hast anointed..."
Revelation 3:7 - "...These things saith He that is holy..."

Holiness dwells within the Living Son of God. It is His nature. From Him, all holiness is derived.

3. Righteous and Just

Isaiah 53:11 - "...by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many..."
Hebrews 1:9 - "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity..."
Isaiah 11:5 - "And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins..."
Zechariah 9:9 - "...behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just..."
John 5:30 - "...My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will..."
Acts 22:14 - "...The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One..."

The Lord Jesus is the Righteous Lord Who makes many righteous. He is perfectly holy, upright, and undefiled. He came to fulfill all righteousness; His sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness; He is righteous in all His ways. He hates and opposes all sin.

In the Scriptures, this virtue is depicted as a girdle about His loins. As a band girds up the loose, flowing robes before action, even so does His righteousness cling to Him and is the motivation behind His just ways and acts.

He is the Fountain of all righteousness, justice, and holiness.

4. Good

Matthew 19:16 - "And behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master..."

When this individual came to the Lord Jesus, he honored Him by addressing Him as "Good Master." In a sense, what he was saying was that Jesus was the best of teachers - the most excellent of all. No would could express himself like He did.

5. Faithful

1 Thessalonians 5:24 - "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it."

Sanctification is a work of grace. God began this good work, and He will be sure to complete it.

6. True

John 1:14 - "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
John 7:18 - "...but He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him."

Jesus is the Truth. In Him is no lie or falsehood. At all times, He declared the Truth with simplicity and great plainness of speech to those who had an ear to hear.

Unlike the deceivers of His day and of our modern day, He did not seek His own glory. This very act verified Him as a true Teacher sent from God. He came to promote His Father's Glory and to provoke all men to love and obey Him.

7. Guileless

Isaiah 53:9 - "...because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth."
1 Peter 2:22 - "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth."

Christ was always truthful. He never offended another in word or in deed through deceit, trickery, betrayal, hypocrisy, or insincerity.

8. Sinless

John 8:46 - "Which of you convinceth Me of sin?..."
2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin..."

No one could ever convict Him of any sin or prove Him guilty of any wrongdoing. He was a total stranger to sin. His heart and mind were entirely pure.

9. Spotless

1 Peter 1:19 - "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The Lamb of God was in no way tainted by the world. He was perfectly pure.

10. Innocent

Matthew 27:4 - "...I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood..."

Judas, the betrayer, recognized that Jesus had done no wrong - He was innocent.

11. Harmless

Hebrews 7:26 - "For such an high priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners..."

Never did this High Priest ever injure another's person, property, or name.

12. Obedient

Psalm 40:8 - "I delight to do Thy will, O my God..."
John 4:34 - "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work."
John 15:10 - "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love."
Luke 2:49 - "And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?"

He made it His main business and great objective while on earth to do the will of His Father which was to make atonement for the sins of mankind. He did not veer to the right hand or to the left at any time.

13. Zealous

John 2:17 - "And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up."
John 8:29 - "And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him."

He had an intense passion to see men worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

14. Meek

Isaiah 53:7 - "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."

Although He was hard pressed and ill treated, He suffered it patiently. He never complained or defended Himself.

15. Lowly

Zechariah 9:9 - "...behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly..."
Matthew 11:29 - "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart..."

Pride in one's heart makes a person so unlike Christ. He is the total opposite - mild, gentle, tender, humble, poor and afflicted - never harsh or overbearing.

16. Merciful

Hebrews 2:17 - "Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God..."

He was the perfect candidate to be our Great High Priest because He is so compassionate. He is easily moved by our weaknesses and infirmities.

17. Patient

Matthew 27:14 - "And He answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly."

When He stood before His vicious accusers, He said nothing. Pilate marvelled at His silence for he knew how quick most men are to defend themselves.

18. Longsuffering

1 Timothy 1:16 - "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ night show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting."

The Lord Jesus demonstrated utmost forbearance with Saul, the murderous Pharisee, who persecuted His precious Blood-bought people.

19. Compassionate

Isaiah 40:11 - "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
Luke 19:41 - "And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it."

He is the Good Shepherd Who cares so tenderly for His sheep. He is especially mindful of those who are young, feeble, weak, weary, exhausted, sick, and faint.

Even though Jerusalem was indeed guilty of rejecting Him, He still wept out of pity for this Godforsaken city about to face total ruin.

20. Benevolent

Matthew 4:23 - "...and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil..."

God is a Good God. He is in the business of doing good to all - healing and delivering all who are tormented by the devil.

21. Loving

John 13:1 - "...having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end."

John 15:13 - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Despite the many weaknesses and shortcomings in His disciples, He loved them constantly and continuously. He never changed His feelings toward them.

He even loved the bitterest of foes who mocked and scorned Him. Their rejection of Him as Messiah and Lord of all didn't stop Him from laying down His life for them as well.

22. Self-denying

Matthew 8:20 - "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."

2 Corinthians 8:9 - "...though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."

Despite what many are preaching today, claiming that He was rich, He subjected Himself to abject poverty for our sakes. He did not own a home of His own; He was financially supported by others; He did not have a large savings account or great prosperity. He submitted to a lifestyle of extreme poverty in order to direct our attention to the heavenly wealth that lies ahead in His Father's House and to show us the vanity of worldly wealth.

He sacrificed the great riches of heaven so that we who were so poor and destitute in spirit could become so rich with the spiritual blessings found in Him.

23. Humble

Luke 22:27 - "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as He that serveth."

Philippians 2:8 - "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself..."

When He came to earth, He laid aside His Glory. He humbled Himself by becoming a man - obedient unto death. His entire life reflected characteristics of humility, poverty, submission, simplicity, and modesty.

24. Resigned

Luke 22:42 - "Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done."

No matter how hard it was against His flesh - He submitted himself to the Father's Will.

25. Forgiving

Luke 23:34 - "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..."

In the midst of those who were most intent on killing Him, He made intercession for them. He begged the Father to pardon them - reminding Him that they did it all through ignorance.

"Conformed to the image of His Son" - Are we?

Are we
...lovely, holy, righteous, faithful, true, and just in all our ways?
...undefiled - without blemish or spot?
...innocent - injuring no one?
...obedient, zealous of God's Glory, or do we still seek our own glory?
...meek, lowly, compassionate, merciful, patient, and longsuffering in our dealings with others?
...constant or fickle in our love for others?

Is there any guile or deceit in our mouths?
Do we go about doing good for all?
Have we made ourselves "poor" so that others may be "rich" spiritually?
Do we sacrifice in this life so that others may enjoy the blessings of God, too?

Have we humbled ourselves and become servants to God and men...resigned ourselves to the Will of God no matter how hard it may be on our flesh?

Lastly, can we forgive others - yes, even our enemies - who have so wrongfully treated us?

More and more with each new day, we should be resembling the Living Son of God. This is God's purpose and plan for our lives.

It will happen by His grace and through the power of His Holy Spirit.
The characteristics of Jesus will become ours.
We will increasingly look more and more like Him.
At least, that should be our Daily Goal.

May God Bless His Word.
Connie