Sep 28

Those of us who believe in Jesus are to reflect him in our lives. He actually lives out his life in us in this current generation. The message of Galatians 3 is that we are not to try to do this impossible task on our own, by our own efforts.

No one can live the perfect life that Jesus lived. But we can serve as mirrors, reflecting his image to a world in darkness. Jesus even called us the light of the world, just as he called himself the light of the world. We have been united with him inhis Spirit, and as he is in the world, so are we (1 Jn. 4:17).

He is the light of the world; so are we (Mt. 5:14). When John the Baptist came preaching repentance, Scripture testifies of him that he was not the light but that he was a witness to the light of Christ (John 1:8).

So are we not the saving light of the world. Only Jesus is that light. But we do reflect his light into the world when that light abides in our heart. And then we are transformed day by day, more and more, into the image of that light. But it is not we who do this but the Lord himself, as 2 Cor. 3:18 makes clear.

But notice that that verse does not end simply with ascribing to God this wonderful work within us. It says, yes, that this "comes from the Lord" and it could have stopped there. But
it goes on to say, "who is the Spirit."

God's Word wants to make if perfectly clear that it is the specific person of the Holy Spirit who makes us like Christ. That is why we desperately need the Holy Spirit. Only he can bring us to faith in Christ, and only he can make that faith alive in us and to the world.

Scripture for today: Galatians 3; 2 Cor. 3:18
Thought for today: The Holy Spirit transforms me into the image of Christ.
Prayer for today: Holy Spirit, thank you for making me more and more like Jesus.

SEP 28