“Conformity to the image of Christ is why you were made.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 18, 2025
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29, CSB
I grew up in Christian circles where “predestination” was the hot topic. Even in youth group, as young and relatively ignorant children, we would passionately debate our chosen side, convinced of the correctness of our opinion and the necessity of defending it over and against those who saw things differently. And without diminishing the importance of this topic, I do today wonder if it was an example of missing the forest for the trees? In our efforts to know the unknowable, that is, the mind of God, I fear we missed the clear and immediate teaching of Scripture that every follower of Christ can joyfully get behind.
As I read Romans 8, it is clear to me that it is the will of God for us to be conformed to the image of his Son. This has always and will forever be the will of God. Perhaps wisdom could be found in spending less time asking if you are predestined and instead focusing on what you have been predestined to do!
The “if” questions of faith are profoundly difficult to answer, and often lead us into philosophical abstractions that may be interesting, yet do little to help us live the life of faith. By contrast, “what” questions keep us moving forward and have the potential to transform our lives, and there is no lack of clarity on what God wants from our lives. Conformity to the image of Christ is why you were made. It is what it means to be human and become fully alive, and pursuing Christ’s likeness is the most important endeavor anyone could possibly undertake.
Of course, to become like Christ means we must know what Christ was like! Ignorance of the Scriptures leaves us blind in our pursuit of holiness. We must read the gospels and prayerfully ask the Spirit to plant the seed of faith deep within our hearts. This is not a one-time action but daily medicine that heals our hearts and transforms our lives, becoming that which the Lord predestined from the very beginning.
Prayer
Father, plant the seed of your kingdom deep within our hearts, and by your grace may we become more and more like your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Application
Cultivate a habit of daily time in the gospels, learning from the life of Jesus and prayerfully asking the Spirit to birth this same life within you.
Related Reading
2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:22–24; Philippians 3:10
Worship Resource
One Voice Worship feat. Canaan Baca: More Like Jesus
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