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DAY 22 OF 36

Becoming Like Jesus Is a Slow Process

By Rick Warren

“This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (Ephesians 4:13 CEV).

Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.

Referring to this process, Paul said, “This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (Ephesians 4:13 CEV).

You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won’t be completed here on Earth. It will only be finished when you get to Heaven or when Jesus returns.

At that point, whatever unfinished work on your character is left will be wrapped up. The Bible says that when we are finally able to see Jesus perfectly, we will become perfectly like him: “We are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NLT, second edition).

Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building our character than he is anything else. We worry when God seems silent on specific issues such as “What career should I choose?”

The truth is, there are many different careers that could be in God’s will for your life. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:17, 23).

God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings. God is much more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, not your career.

God’s purpose is to make us like him before he takes us to Heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.

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About this Plan

Transformed

Would you like to become all that God intended you to be? You can, but not on your own power. If you're like most people - every new year - you've tried to make positive changes and then given up or slidden back into old destructive patterns. Here's the good news: With God's help you can make and maintain positive changes in every area of your life. Let Pastor Rick show you how unlocking the promises in God's word and following his instructions will transform your life in seven key areas...from the inside out.

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We would like to thank Pastor Rick Warren and Daily Hope for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: pastorrick.com