“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” — Colossians 3:10
There is something incredibly encouraging hidden in that little phrase, “being renewed.” God’s Word reassures you that God, not you, makes you new. Paul doesn’t say, “You just need to do better.” or “Try harder to become a better version of yourself.” The wonderful thing about this verse is that for all who belong to Christ, God is already doing something in you.
It reminds me a little of watching my own son grow up. As his father, I see much of myself in him. In his expressions and the way he talks. I see it in the things he gets excited about as well as the music he listens to. Also, some of his mannerisms. Sometimes I will hear him talking with his friends and think, “Oh man… that little dude sounds a lot like me.”
Now, I’m sure he’s never once thought, “Today I’m going to try and be more like my dad.” (In fact, I bet he’d gag at just the thought. lol) But it is true, he has become a lot like me simply because he’s been WITH me all of these years.
Being With Jesus
That’s exactly what Paul is getting at here. As we walk daily WITH Jesus, He renews us to look and sound more like Him! And His influence in our lives becomes contagious. Not because there is a pressure or expectation to be like Him. But simply because we are WITH Him.
We’re just like a son who spends years with his father. Naturally, we reflect Jesus more and more while we are daily “being renewed in knowledge after the image of” our Creator.
God is the one at work making His sons and daughters look like Jesus. This is the great encouragement we see in Colossians 3:10. The Lord is always doing something in you that you could never do on your own. You certainly may not see all the changes in real time. However, you can definitely rest in the reality that He is not finished with you.
Little by little, day by day, God makes the image of Christ more visible in His children. So, don’t wake up tomorrow thinking, “I need to become a better version of myself.” Instead, wake up knowing, “Christ is at work in me.” And then live like it!
Grace and peace,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor