Study Guide and Daily Devotion
Monday, September 26
You were created to be like Christ. From the very beginning, God’s plan
has been to make you like his son, Jesus. Everyone is made in God’s
image. Read Genesis 1:26-28, 31. Over time God’s image in each of us
is tarnished by sin. We need to have God’s image polished again from
the inside out. God wants you to grow spiritually and become like Christ by
transforming your character. This is the Christ-like character described in
the fruit of the Spirit and Paul’s great chapter on love. Read Galatians
5:22 and I Corinthians 13. Pray that Christ’s character may grow in
you.
Tuesday, September 27
So what happens when we live God’s way? The Holy Spirit brings gifts
into our lives much like fruits appear in the orchard. You may wonder if you
are making much spiritual progress? To be sure it is not something that you
can do on your own. Surely as you grow in spiritual maturity and turn more
of your life over to service to others, you will be given new gifts. These
gifts are like ripe fruits. They take time to mature and ripen. So how do
you ripen your fruit? Stop thinking always about yourself, and offer yourself
as a gift of love to others. Paul warns, “The person who plants selfishness,
ignoring the needs of others, ignoring God, harvests a crop of weeds.”
Pray that you will live God’s way today.
Wednesday, September 28
There are three responsibilities in becoming like Christ. Read Ephesians 4:22-24.
First let go of old ways of acting. Reflect on self-serving patterns that
you would be wise to leave behind. Second, change the way you think. Paul
says we are transformed when we let our minds be the same as Christ Jesus.
When we allow God to direct our thoughts we are changed from the inside out.
Third, we must put on the character of Christ by developing holy habits. What
small steps can you take today to take responsibility in becoming more like
Christ?
Thursday, September 29
The transformation of our selves in Christ’s likeness comes through
the transformation of the heart. The transformation of the heart does not
come from our own doing. The radical re-centering of your life comes from
the path of the cross, the path of “death.” Jesus calls us to
“die” to the old self and be reborn in the newness of life through
God’s grace. You may die to the self that is the center of its own concern
and be reborn in a life of giving and generosity to others. Be open to the
Holy Spirit and be willing to trust God to bring about transformation in you.
The Holy Spirit is reluctant to do this alone. God wants you to take steps
to grow in spite of your feelings of fear, move ahead in your weakness and
let God fill you with confidence to let go of your old self, so a new self
can be born in Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Friday, September 30
You are a work in progress. Your spiritual growth will take the rest of your
life. United Methodists believe that each of us should push on toward perfection,
knowing that God will perfect us at the moment of our death. God wants to
make us like himself before we go on to eternity. This is our greatest privilege,
our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny. In what area of your
life do you need to ask for the Spirit’s power to be like Christ today?
First
United Methodist Church 