What is Your Image?
When people think about you, what do they think about? What do you want people to think about you? We call that our image. There are some people who want to be seen as beautiful or handsome. They do everything they can to portray that image to others. Then, there are those who wish to look smart or intellectual. They do things and speak a certain way to give that image. Still others want to give the image of being a rebel or being wild and independent. Others want to look rich whether they are or not. There are all kinds of images to portray.
What is the right image to try to portray to others? Yes, I do believe there is a correct image. We do not get to choose completely. We will be unique, and we will have our own distinct personality, but that is not the image. The image is the goal for which we are striving to be known. Romans 8:29 tells us the only proper image. It is the one God wants for everyone. He wants all of us to be conformed to the image of Christ. He wants us to look like Jesus in our own way, but that is still being like Jesus. When people look at us, they should think we act and speak like Jesus would if He were here with us today. Now, this only applies to Christians, because a non-believer can't look like Jesus. In fact, a non-believer will not want to look like Jesus. If you are a believer the Lord will do everything He can to lead you to be conformed to His image including punishing you, if you don't become like Him. That is how important this image thing is for us. Think about it. If Jesus is Lord, which He is, we should all desire to be like Him more and more all the time. If not, we are being the Lord of our own lives, and that doesn't honor Jesus at all.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 65-66 and I Timothy 2.
What is the right image to try to portray to others? Yes, I do believe there is a correct image. We do not get to choose completely. We will be unique, and we will have our own distinct personality, but that is not the image. The image is the goal for which we are striving to be known. Romans 8:29 tells us the only proper image. It is the one God wants for everyone. He wants all of us to be conformed to the image of Christ. He wants us to look like Jesus in our own way, but that is still being like Jesus. When people look at us, they should think we act and speak like Jesus would if He were here with us today. Now, this only applies to Christians, because a non-believer can't look like Jesus. In fact, a non-believer will not want to look like Jesus. If you are a believer the Lord will do everything He can to lead you to be conformed to His image including punishing you, if you don't become like Him. That is how important this image thing is for us. Think about it. If Jesus is Lord, which He is, we should all desire to be like Him more and more all the time. If not, we are being the Lord of our own lives, and that doesn't honor Jesus at all.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 65-66 and I Timothy 2.