“…you may be partakers of the divine nature…” (2 Peter 1:4 NKJ)

Some time ago, my 10 year old granddaughter Olivia, was going to the movies to see the latest version of Cinderella. As I spoke to her on the phone, she was excited to go see the movie. However, as her grandfather, I told her that when she sees Prince Charming in the movie, he will look a little familiar because they modeled him after me! She said, “Really Poppy?” And taking the poetic license that grandfathers can take, I said, “Absolutely”! So with great anticipation of a family resemblance, she went to see the movie with her family.

That night, after seeing the movie, Olivia called me on the phone to tell me how she liked the movie. So I asked her if she saw Prince Charming? And in a most serious, yet sarcastic tone of voice, she said, “Poppy, Prince Charming looks nothing like you!” So much for the resemblance!

But thank God for His Word that tells us who we really are to resemble… who we, as believers, should look like in word and behavior. Romans 8:29 says that we are, “conformed to the image of His Son”.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says that, “we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord”.  2 Peter 1:4 states that by His great and precious promises we may be, “partakers of His divine nature”. Romans 12:2 says that we are not to be conformed to this world but, “to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

We are to bear the image of Christ in all we think, say and do by the power and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit and by the Holy Word of God. As we believe, study, know and obey God’s Word by faith, we can trust 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which proclaims that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

But wait a minute… do we really want to be Christlike? Do we really want to be transformed into His image? Do we really want to be partakers of His divine nature? Well, yes… when it comes to victorious living, casting out demons, walking in miracles, signs and wonders. But there is another side to desiring to be Christlike. To be conformed to His image, character and nature also means that we may be required to wash one another’s feet in humility and love, to take the form of a servant and to serve one another with all our heart, to be poured out and broken for the sake of others, to suffer persecution and rejection for the sake of the Gospel, to have a prayer life that sometimes prays all night and every day, to be reviled and offended and yet not say anything, to be quick to forgive in the face of rejection, betrayal and hurt, to live a life of sacrifice, to submit and surrender all to the will and purpose of our Father, to live a life of compassion for others and the well being and salvation of all we come by.

A tall order no doubt… but through the Holy word of God and through the presence, power and provision of the Holy Spirit… and an absolute love for our Lord… it becomes for us the only way to live! Let our prayer today be, “Lord, in all I do, think and say… let me be a reflection of you. That through me, they may come to know you”!

The most recent movie Olivia wants to see is “Dumbo”… and I’m not saying nothing!!!