Above Only Daily Devotional june 1 2019 By Archbishop Margaret E. Benson Idahosa Topic: Jesus is Your Standard: Focus on Him

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2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:15 (GNB) Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.

Jesus is your standard and your destiny is to be conformed to His exact image, Rom. 8:29. God wants you and me to be like Christ in every wat. In Ephesians 4:11-13, the Bible says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.

Our goal is not to be better than anyone else; it is to be like Christ. Some people enjoy the carnal feeling of pride that results from their thinking that they are better than others in one material way or the other. Such people are simply being deceived by vanity. In our first text above, Apostle Paul made it clear that people who compare themselves with others are unwise. We are not to judge ourselves or others by who we are in the physical, but by who we are in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:16-17. The Laodicean church became proud and spiritually lukewarm because they felt that they were rich and wealthy. But, in the sight of God, they were naked and wretched, Rev. 3:14-19. Comparing yourself with Christ and desiring to be more like Him will keep you humble and passionate as you grow in God. Instead of comparing yourself with anyone else, you will find yourself loving them like Christ does and doing all possible to help them attain our goal of becoming more like Christ in every area of our lives. 

Prayer:

I desire to be like Christ in every area of my life. Transform me by your Spirit and manifest more of the life of Christ within me.

Bible in one year reading plan: 2 Chronicles 15-16, John 12:27-50.