Main Scripture: Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Core Message: Just as earthly fathers play a vital role in their child’s life, the Heavenly Father is the greatest influence in the lives of His children. Believers are called to imitate their Heavenly Father. Salvation, which brings the "Spirit of Sonship," calls for a complete transformation from the way we once lived to the way of life led by the family of God. The goal is to be molded into the image of Christ, not just for our own benefit, but to shine as a visible demonstration of God's power and love in our everyday lives, showing ourselves to be children of God.

Imitating the Father's Character

Ephesians 5:1 instructs us to “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.”

• Demonstrate God’s Love: Because God has so overwhelmingly poured His love into us, we are now equipped to reflect His very character—including His love, mercy, and grace—to a world that does not know Him (1 John 3:1).
• A New Pattern of Life: When we read about Jesus’ life, we see very clearly how a member of God’s family acts. Anyone seeking to follow the Heavenly Father’s example starts by adopting Jesus’ life as the new standard of living, seeking godly role models, and surrounding ourselves with Christ-like influences.

The Spirit of Sonship: At salvation, God grants us the Holy Spirit, and Romans 8:15 tells us that His Spirit of Sonship enables us to cry out to Him, "Abba Father." This name conveys familial affection, intimacy and trust for God. This immediate and personal access is what delivers us from being defined by our past struggles into becoming heirs of the Kingdom of God! We fully receive power and freedom from the things that once held us, such as fear, anger, addiction, and illness.

Conforming to the Image of the Son

In Romans 12:2 we read, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

While the world around us pressures us to conform to its patterns—the latest fads, what music to like, etc.—God calls us to a deliberate, spiritual ‘metamorphosis,’ or transformation, into the image of Jesus Christ.

• The Light of the Gospel: Satan, “the god of this age,” blinds unbelievers from seeing ‘the light of the gospel,’ which displays the glory of Christ, who is the perfect image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). The light of the gospel is the truth that Jesus Christ alone is the way to the Father! (John 14:6)
• Renewing the Mind: When someone is thoroughly convinced of a new idea, they often exclaim, “I’m sold!” meaning their belief system has fully conformed to that new thought. Similarly, when we understand that we have actually been ‘bought’ by the precious blood of Christ, as we read about in 1 Peter 1:19, we too are convinced and transformed to reflect His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Change-Maker: Often in life, we wait for our circumstances to change, conforming to the environment around us. However, God empowers us to be initiators of change, so that we reflect His character now. We demonstrate the power of God when we become change-makers. We initiate the change in our homes. When we step into what God, our Creator, has planned for our lives, we find the truest joy and satisfaction.

Living a Life on Display

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:9, “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.”

The work God begins in us must lead to our living a life that inspires others to seek Christ. We are not called to be passive Christians, but rather disciples and makers of disciples.

• Showing the Way: Much like signposts on a highway, God’s sons and daughters are meant to show others the way to the Heavenly Father by demonstrating a life lived in His truth and in His Spirit of Sonship.
• Glory in the Process: We do not wait until we are ‘perfect’ to lead; the glory is in the active process of being transformed into the image of The Perfect One. We confidently say, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). 
• A Spectacle for the Universe: Here, Paul rejects the commonly held belief that says “only God can judge me,” emphasizing that our actions are seen by those around us. As 1 Corinthians 4:9 describes, Christians are put "on display" and made to be a "spectacle to the whole universe" for angels and human beings to see the work of God's perfection in us.

Next Step: Reflect today on whether you are promoting or hindering others in their walk with God by the example you are setting. Are you living a life that imitates Christ? Are you able to say to others– follow me as I follow Christ?