By Abel Ukachi Amadi

Key verse: Galatians 4:19: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” (KJV).

God’s desire for us as believers is that we will be transformed into the image of Christ. God invites us to surrender our old ways, receive a new heart, and experience true transformation through His spirit and renewing our minds. God’s goal for every believer in Christ is transformation.

Transformation is necessary because we did not enter this world with a godly nature and character. It is a process, which we undergo, so that, Christ will be formed in us.

Transformation is God’s way of forming Himself inside of us. We are all called to be like Jesus and that was why Apostle Paul challenged the Galatians to grow up in their faith and be like Jesus. You can grow your faith by nurturing it with spiritual nutrients. You nurture your faith by attending Bible studies; studying your Bible, pray and fast. The early church was not sustained by excitement, but by devotion. They gave themselves continually to doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. These were not occasional practices; they were the pillars upon which they built their lives. They carried a sacred consciousness of God, and they never lost sight of what mattered most.
 
Becoming like Christ should be the focus of all believers. We should not be satisfied with just our new birth or born again experience, but we must grow to become like Christ. When we become like Christ, we will manifest Godly character. Godly character is consistently doing what is right in God’s sight, reflecting His moral nature in your thoughts, words, and actions. It is defined by integrity, a clear conscience and a life motivated by love and respect for both God and others, regardless of the situation. Godly character is something that all devoted Christ followers pursue and desire to be deepened in on a daily basis. When we reflect Godly character, it gives us influence over people who are drawn by the way we act. Character is influence. The world around us wants to see Christ revealed in our actions, conduct and conversations. The disciples of Jesus were first called Christians because they behaved like Christ (Acts 11:26). We are not different from the people of the world if we don’t showcase Christ living inside of us.
 
God’s purpose for every believer is to be transformed into the image and character of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Paul was eager to see his beloved spiritual children advancing in that purpose, “growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Paul would never cease caring and travailing in anguish until the life of Christ was formed in them. No one is born a full-grown Christian. They are born babies. Then they are to grow up, spiritually. The Bible says: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby,” (1 Peter 2:2). While people are babies spiritually, somebody has to feed them.

This is one place where prayer comes in. Older believers need to hold them up in prayer as they are learning to walk. The goal of all spiritual formation is the transformation of the disciple into the likeness of Christ. The earnest desire of every true believer is to be Christlike. Christ is formed in us when He is revealed in us, living in us and formed in us.

It is the progressive workings of the Holy Spirit, so that our outer conduct can and should become a natural expression or outflow of the character and teaching of Jesus.
 
• Today’s nugget: Christ revealed in us, living in us and formed in us. Prayer: Lord help me to express Christ in my character. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected], Dr Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.