Formed in His ImageSýnishorn

The Paradigm for Spiritual Formation

In order to live meaningful Christian lives, we will apply what we’ve learned during this devotional with a paradigm for formation: the lifelong process of image bearers called by the goodness of God, shaped by the truth of God, to behold the beauty of God.

Called by the Goodness of God

Even as Christians, it is easy for us to be led by a story other than the gospel. Therefore, our understanding of spiritual formation must start with the goodness of God, specifically the reality that he has called us into a different story. The story of formation is the story of the gospel. We are formed to be gospel people.

Formation, both corporately and individually, should never veer from the story of God’s goodness to us in Christ. God is truly good to His people, and this undergirds everything we pursue in our formation.

Shaped by the Truth of God

Truth is not just about facts, but it is woven into the fabric of reality. We need truth to build meaningful (i.e. good and beautiful) lives. Facts change; truth is eternal. God created all things visible and invisible, and he made us in his image. This is the truth. Additionally, Christ as the Word of God is the truth of God (see John 1:14–17; 14:6). Thus, spiritual formation can only take place when we emphasize God’s truth at every turn. A truth or Word-centered spirituality is the only way that we will grow.

Only the unified truth of God’s Word can help us grow into the image of Christ. God’s truth continually affirms our identity in Christ and our mission for his Kingdom. When we wander from the truth of God, our Christian formation fizzles and dies.

Beholding the Beauty of God

Hopefully, you are starting to be convinced of the need to recover the language and idea of “beauty” in Christian spirituality. We can’t talk about it enough. It is the aim and focus of our formation. Beauty is powerful, captivating, and deeply affects us. Beauty also has the power to help us in trials. The eternal weight of glory is the perpetual experience of God’s beauty and majesty.

All formation should be aimed at knowing and enjoying God in his manifest works in the world and salvation. Beauty moves us, and the beauty of God is meant to move us the most. And while we may only have glimpses of his glory, the beatific vision discussed earlier affirms that we will perpetually experience his beauty for eternity.

Truly, this is the only aim in life that matters.

Thank you for reading!

We hope you enjoyed this devotional, which is based on Formed in His Image (2023, B&H Publishing Group) by Coleman M. Ford. Click here to learn more.