Hope and Challenge

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I John 3:1-3

One of the biggest surprises of this blog has been that, while I intended to write about how I am learning to teach my children about God, God so frequently turns my burden backward and shows me the needs of my own heart. It delights me that God is using my children in this way. God is still working in my life!

I’ve been thinking on these passages this week. We know that all of our experiences (even the children who may not yet be blessings of ease) are designed for a purpose. We will be like Christ! Right now, my laundry has piled up. I can be overwhelmed and sorry for myself. (Wouldn’t it be nice to be a lady of old with several maids to take care of peripheral tasks such as laundry? Yes, I know we have washing machines. 😉 A better response would be to recognize that even the pile of laundry points to my need for Christ.

Now John gives us hope, we will someday be like Christ, but he also gives us a responsibility. Even though our eventual Christlikeness is pre-established, we still have a responsibility to wrestle with the sin in our lives. We purify ourselves, even as Christ is pure. Christlikeness is a future certainty for a believer, but it’s also a present goal. I love the juxtaposition of hope and challenge of Christlikeness.

May I set my eyes on Christ the pure one, as I renew my mind each day this week. And get the laundry done.

How has God’s Word changed how you think or act this week?