“Man was meant to function like a mirror—something to reflect the image of God into creation.”

- Eric Mason

These last two antithetical statements have to do with

1. How we treat people when they insult us?

2. How do we reflect the glory of God in the way we treat people regardless if they are like us or not, or even if they don’t like us?

1. God reveal my heart to me and show me where I need to grow or repent in order to reflect your nature.

2. Am I operating in offense and pride? When you choose to live in offense and pride you cannot reflect the character of God.

3. Am I compassionate towards others in their need or do I cut my heart off from people when they are an inconvenience to me or when they doesn’t suit my agenda?

4. Do I love unconditionally or do I only engage people who are like me or who agree with me?

“But I am also concerned about our moral uprightness and the health of our souls. Therefore I must oppose any attempt to gain our freedom by

the methods of malice, hate, and violence that have characterized our oppressors. Hate is just as injurious to the hater as it is to the hated. Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Many of our inner conflicts are rooted in hate. This is why psychiatrists say, “Love or perish.” Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives that shapes our feelings, thoughts, and actions towards other people for their wellbeing and God’s glory.

“Spiritual transformation for the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.” External manifestation of Christlikeness is not, however the focus of the process, and when it is made the main emphasis, the process will certainly be defeated, falling into deadening legalism and pointless parochialism.”

it’s about you daily surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit and walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit so the nature of God can be formed in you.

1. God reveal my heart to me and show me where I need to grow or repent in order to reflect your nature.

2. Am I operating in offense and pride?

3. Am I compassionate towards others in their need or do I cut my heart off from people when they are an inconvenience to me or when they doesn’t suit my agenda?

4. Do I love unconditionally or do I only engage people who are like me or who agree with me?