By Abel Ukachi Amadi

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

God’s plan for us, believers, is to grow spiritually. We should be a community in which Christ, Himself, is being formed. The goal of every church, every fellowship and every small group of believers should be that Christ be formed in the people. That Christ would be seen, felt and reflected through us. Christ is formed in us when we live in unity as believers. John 17:21 says: “That they may all be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.” The world does not see Christ through our church buildings, but through our oneness. Unity is not uniformity; it is harmony in diversity. When we choose forgiveness over offense, and grace over gossip, Christ is formed in us. A choir has many voices, but when each sings their part in harmony, the sound becomes one — beautiful and strong. That is how Christ sounds in a united community.

Christ is formed when we serve one another. Philippians 2:7 says that Christ made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant. Christ is formed not in those who demand to be served, but in those who serve others. Every act of kindness, every humble service, shapes the image of Christ among us. Service is the language of love in the Kingdom. When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, He showed that the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all.

Paul’s work in the church at Galatia was to help Christ be formed in them. He worked so that Christ would live in them (Gal. 2:20); so, that they would be more like Christ. Our goal, as a church, is to help that Christ be formed in our congregations, in our brothers and sisters. It begins with the leaders, so people can imitate them, just as they imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). They lead not just in words, but also in the example they set. We are not to be conformed to this world, but to the pattern of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2). This is spiritual formation — being shaped by the Spirit of Christ into what He wants us to be, using the gifts He Has given each of us, doing the work He Has given us, being instruments of righteousness as we submit our lives to Him.

Becoming like Christ does not happen by accident. It takes intentional living on daily basis to be more like Christ. We give our lives to Him on a daily basis, and He shapes us to become more like Him.

How do we become like Christ? Colossians 3:9-10 gives an answer: “You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Ephesians 4:22-24 gives a similar answer: “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Out with the old, and in with the new! Put off wrong ways, and put on the way of Christ. This is the lifelong job that we Christians have, a daily duty, a daily joy as we experience our true identity in Christ. Our life is centered on Jesus, who not only shows us the Father, He also shows us what we can be like as we follow Him.

• Today’s nugget: Put off wrong ways, and put on the way of Christ. Prayer: Lord help me to put off the wrong ways. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected], Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.