Opening Text: Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
The Message
Jesus led an exemplary life. People looked to Him because He was commendable of respect and imitation. A Christian who lives by example serves as a model to others. Such also deserves honour, respect or admiration. Several synonyms are good to qualify a Christian who lives a life of example. You can say the brother/sister is admirable, commendable, creditable, deserving, estimable, honourable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy, reputable, respectable and worthy. Wow!
The world today is deficient of role model. Families, institutions etc. are manifesting grave inefficiency in role modelling.
This nation needs role models, and as Christians, not only should we be role models, Christ calls us to be.
In our opening text, St Paul’s clarification does not just mean that God has previous knowledge of what believers will do or that God foreknows them. Nor does divine foresight merely mean an awareness of or friend with an individual. Instead it means a meaningful relationship with a person based on God’s choice in eternity before Creation. “He chose us in Him before the Creation of the world. This eternal choice and foresight involves more than forming a relationship between God and believers. It also involves the goal or end of that relationship: Those God foreknew He also predestined (destined or intended) to be conformed (imitated) to the likeness of His Son.
We are those that Papa God brought into relationship with. We are God’s eternal plan. This external plan was predestined (appointed, prearranged or destined) by divine foresight. God saw us ahead of the time. We were right in his mind in the beginning. He has always had a good thought about us even before we were born. God has already planned our destiny. His planned destiny (call) is to make us imitate Jesus Christ. It means that Christ is exalted as the Firstborn and we are his brothers and sisters to follow his steps.
DECLARATIONS
I love my bible
I am what the word says I am
I will become what the word says I will be
I will go to places the word says I should go
I am an imitator of Christ
I am proud others could count on me and imitate my good works
I am the reigning model of our time
I am a living message
I am chosen by God ahead of the time
I am a role model in the kingdom of God
I am admirable, commendable, creditable, estimable, honourable, laudable, reputable and respectable
God bless you
Pastor (Barr) Wilson
God’s Love Church (GLC)