December 2, 2023… Growing In Christ …

December 2, 2023… Growing In Christ …    

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from the group Passion - featuring Kristian Stanfill singing  … More Like Jesus …  Poignantly singing of letting Christ’s love and grace transform us into becoming more like Christ.  

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Highlight Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32 [6NLT] … 

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

… Paul charges fellow Christians to grow in Christlike kindness and forgiveness.    

Highlight Passage (in context) … Ephesians 4:15-16, 22-32  … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to grow in Christlikeness.             

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Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 (NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to grow in Christ to become living sacrifices to God’s love and grace, avoiding sinful and worldly choices.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul prays for fellow Christians to grow into being fruitful in Christlikeness.  

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 2:15 (NLT] …  

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth 

… Paul teaches Timothy (and all Christians) to work hard to present themselves (ourselves) to God as one who has grown in Christlikeness.       

Reference Passage: … James 1:3-4 (NLT] …  

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

… James teaches persecuted Christians that we are tested in life so that we’ll grow into the character of Christ.    

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 3:17-18 (NLT] …  

17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

… Peter exhorts fellow Christians to be on guard against worldly influences and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  author , Monica La Rose  AT THIS LINK - tells of James Rhee, the CEO of a business which was failing financially.  Yet Rhee, as CEO, maintained that business practices like “goodwill” and building a “culture of kindness” were essential to restoration of his company; and he was right, transforming his business into a resounding success, even by worldly standards.  

How are we, as followers of Christ building our lives?   Are we following the world’s values, as the Apostle Paul and other New Testament authors warned against in the Scriptures above. … OR … are we growing to become more like Christ in the way we live?   Personally, I pray that we’re all growing and becoming more like our Lord day-by-day-by-day!                                                                                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading us - thru testing and challenge - to become more like You, Lord.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, …to do all we can, Lord, to become more like You. … Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.