Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“CONFORMED TO CHRIST’S IMAGE”

God has determined for His children to be conformed to the image of His Son, Christ Jesus. A careful examination of this conformity begins with the life and suffering of Christ. Christ, the innocent lamb of God suffered immense pain in the flesh. He took upon Him the sins of sinful man and endured the wrath of God for our sake. He endured this in obedience all the way to death. They lied on Him, beat Him, and nailed Him to a Roman cross.

We know this is not the end of Christ’s story. Just as He said, He arose victorious over death and the grave three days later. God’s predestined plan for His children is to identify with the suffering of Christ and His bodily resurrection. Jesus is the firstborn from the grave; we too shall join that reality for Christ, through and by His finished work at Calvary! Peter encourages us to avoid being confused and overtaken in our mind by trials and suffering: 1 Peter 4:12, 13– “¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

All suffering that we endure as a believer is ordered by God to conform us into Christ’s image. How did Christ’s suffering work out for Him? He conquered sin, death, and the grave! We too shall conquer all three through Christ. We too shall be joint heirs with God and Christ. God has predestined this reality for every single one of His children; Praise His Holy Name!

Romans 8:29– “29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”