19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Paul had a deep desire, a God-given desire, that the Gospel would change those reading his letter and ministry would be profoundly changed by its message. His message was one of change at the deepest level. Paul wants Christ to be in them. He wants Jesus to be living and reigning in their lives. Not some surface paint job, but a profound redirecting of their very existence. The very Creator of the Universe desires to make Himself known in our inner being. The result: Intimacy with God. When we allow that process of transformation to continue, then we receive Christ in us, the hope of glory. This is such a radical concept. The God of the Universe intimately involved in our lives. This is not Deistic detachment, but God right here, right now. The Lord cares about us. His life becomes our life. We are changed. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. More of Him, and less of me. His will, not mine be done. Are you ready for this change? We are never ready, but if we are followers of Jesus, that change will take place. But change can be scary, even change initiated by the Lord. We don’t know the exact path, but we do know the destination. The Lord promises to work for our ultimate good. When we are conformed to His image, it is a good thing. Allowing the Lord to have His way in our lives allows Heaven to be here on earth. It allows eternity to be manifested in time. It is a glimpse at the restoration of the Garden of Eden and of eternity beyond death. Won’t you allow Christ to be formed in you today?
The Arnold Journey 