Day 9
The Progressive I Am
[content_box_red width=”75%”]WOW Words of Today: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. – Ephesians 4:24[/content_box_red]
We need to renew our mind to God’s image of us, daily. We should believe what God says about us, not what others say or what the devil says. We are renewed day by day.22 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The proverbial writer put it like this, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” 23 In the natural these clothes we wear will wear out, get old and outdated.
Even this earthly suit (our natural bodies) will wear out. But the clothing of God—the robe of righteousness, His glory, His inward fire will not.24 As we grow in Christ, looking in his face by studying the word, continuing learning who we are in Christ, His glory, His presence will shine through more and more.
The writer of Colossians explains it like this, “And ye have clothed yourselves with the new (spiritual self), which is (ever in the process of being) renewed and remolded into (fuller and more perfect knowledge upon) knowledge, after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.”25
This verse says to us we can wear compassion, humility or gentleness as a garment. Remember we are doers of God’s word gazing in the mirror of God’s Word changing day by day from glory to glory. Are you putting on kindness as a garment? Are you wearing the garment of patience in your life today? Gospel writer to the Colossian church encouraged them and now us to, “Clothe yourselves therefore, as (God’s own picked representatives,) His own chosen ones (who are) purified and holy and well-beloved (by God himself, by putting on behavior marked by) tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and patience—which is tireless, long-suffering and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper.”26
The writers of the gospel recorded Jesus proclamations of whom is in the great I AM’s. The most memorable to me was when the Pharisees tried to trap him in his speech. Jesus’ answer to their questions made them angrier at each response. Finally doing away with all pretenses, they said, “You must be of the devil.” Jesus responded with, “You are the children of the father of lies.” “Our father is Moses and Abraham.” His final response was, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
The Scripture says they got so mad they wanted to kill Jesus right then and there. But it was not his time to die so they could do nothing. Even today, the more we grow in the knowledge of whom we are in Christ some will not like it.
Even so, we are commanded to clothe ourselves more and more in Christ. Join me in some confessions about whom we are in Christ. The more we put on this attitude and spirit of our minds the more we will know who we are.
- I am accepted. –Rom. 15:7
- I am his righteousness and holy through Christ. –Eph. 4:24
- I am a new creation. –2 Cor. 5:17
- I am holy. –Rom. 11:16
- I am a child of God. –Rom. 8:16; John. 1:12
- I am loved and cared for affectionately. –John 16:27; 1 Pet. 5:7
- I am a co-heir with Christ. –Rom. 8:17
- I am seated in heavenly places with Christ. –Eph. 2:6
- I am redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. –Col. 1:14; Col. 2:13,14
- I am the righteousness of God in Christ. –2 Cor. 5:21
- I am sanctified. –1 Cor. 1:2
- I am established in Christ and anointed by God. –2 Cor. 1:21
There are many more that we can build our faith up with. Yet, these are plenty to build, rebuild, or simply pump up the image God has created you to have.
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21 Day W.O.R.D. Challenge Exercise
(Memorize Memory Scripture, Pray and Say it aloud throughout every day of the challenge.)
- Memory Scripture: For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. -2 Corinthians 5:21
- Confession: I am the righteousness of God through Christ.