Following our Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus, many of us begin the New Year with resolutions. Resolutions are articulated desires to improve who we are, how we act, and how to be more productive. Most of our motivations are not about greed or the desire to have more things.
Where do our motivations come from? It is a God given desire in every person, to improve, develop, and mature into better expressive “images and likenesses” of His nature. (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] Our effort to improve is a fitting response to our Eternal Father’s invitation to accept His guidance and learn to “walk in newness of life.” (b) So, why do we resolve to improve and be better people?
Visible Splendor
We frequently hear it said, when we accept God-in-Christ, we become “a new creature.” (c) The impression is given that in this moment we become a brand new person. Experience verifies that our initial acceptance does not accomplish all the needed changes. We lack many “Fruits of the Spirit,” like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (d)
Lasting change involves a process of settling in, receiving supportive nutrients, growing roots, and sprouting before it is fruitful. (e) While a “birth from above” (f) can increase our conscious interaction with God’s presence, Scripture affirms our improvement involves many transforming adjustments.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” (g)
The Greek word translated as ‘glory’ means “manifest splendor;” it is visible. In our transformations we see God become visible. Our reflection of His likeness transforms from a dim image into a clearer visual of God’s nature. Ongoing transformations help us develop more correctly into the expressive features of God’s character, attitude, and personality (CAP). Our Lord becomes more visible!
As we improve what we think, feel, and believe about God and His ways among us, His glory is reflected in greater measures. This is why we can occasionally hear someone say “I see God in you.” We want to remember, the visible splendor (glory) that we reflect is “as a mirror.” It is not ours but His. Our grasp of God’s CAP, be it elementary or mature, is what we reflect into one another’s view.
Some changes can come quickly as we receive a sense of peace and a refreshing relief from troubling emotions. However, the feeling we sense in such a moment only starts what is intended to be ongoing processes of renewal. New perceptions require time to settle in and effectively adjust our attitude and empower us to act in agreement with the new and better way of thinking.
As we improve what we think, feel, and believe about God and His ways among us, His glory is reflected in greater measures.
The Renewing Process
As our thoughts and beliefs align with God’s concept of truth, “our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (h) Did you know that as our interaction with the presence of God becomes more intimate, our expressions improve and we become greater reflections of the One “Who is Love and Light.” (i)
We want to realize, “The new self…is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him – a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” (j) No matter where we come from or who we are, the renewing process is available to everyone.
David prayed that God would “renew a steadfast spirit in me.” (k) The firmness of our renewing spirit includes a changing of our mind; “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (l) We are to “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind…put on the new…created in righteousness and…truth.” (m) Transformations help the spirit of our reasoning mind align with God’s concepts of eternal realities.
When Scripture defines the renewing 
of the spirit of our mind, it encourages us to “Repent and turn away…cast away from you all your transgressions…make yourselves a new heart…repent and live.” (n) God enlarges on this process by saying “I will give you a new (renewing) heart and put a new (renewing) spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone (hard, not adaptable).” (o)
These verses enlarge on repenting efforts to renew our reasoning mind and improve our expressive heart. God is with us in the effort. We are not alone in the process because it is a cooperative effort.
Our repentant heart enables us to hear God more clearly and be more responsive to His guidance. This is why Scripture instructs us to “Work out your salvation…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (p) The Eternal One is with our efforts to improve!
Isn’t it helpful to know our improving efforts are not just dependent on our efforts? Repentant people are able to transform from childishness into more mature images and likenesses of God’s heart.
No matter where we come from or who we are, the renewing process is available to everyone.
Reflective Resemblances
Everything in this natural world involves processes of change. Even repentance is not a one-time acknowledgement or activity; we are to become repentant people who are quick to seek to improve and be better. Our repentant resolve to seek continual improvement is a God given incentive.
As we submit to God’s work in us and work out our salvation into daily life, our heart’s expressive character, attitude, and personality (CAP) traits keep renewing and improving to be more like His. Our continual submission to God’s guidance renews, reforms, remolds, and transforms us into better reflective resemblances of His heart! We become more mature images and likenesses of God.
Oh yes, there are days we slip back into old habits and attitudes. However, as repentant people who seek God’s fellowship, we keep uprooting the old ideas and attitudes so we become more mature children of God. This allows us to become more appropriate expressions of our Eternal Father.
The Apostle Paul amplifies this point: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore…have this attitude.” (q)
Pressing on, we look to God for His insight regarding the different situations we face. As we do so, we experience the blessing of God’s presence with us, among us, and in our midst. Our response to the influencing voice of God-in-Christ brings us through our renewing processes, from glory to glory. What a promising and maturing journey we are living!
Our motivation to improve and be better people is always appropriate. So, stick with your resolution to improve. Let’s ask God to empower us to become a better reflective resemblance of His super-great expressive heart. Nothing pleases Him more!
Our continual submission to God’s guidance renews, reforms, remolds, and transforms us into better reflective resemblances of His heart!
a) Genesis 1:26; b) Romans 6:4; c) 2 Corinthians 5:17; d) Galatians 5:22-23; e) Matthew 13:23; f) John 3:3; g) 2 Corinthians 3:18; h) 2 Corinthians 4:16; i) 1 John 1:5; 4:7-8; j) Colossians 3:10-11; k) Psalm 51:10; l) Romans 12:2; m) Ephesians 4:23; n) Ezekiel 18:30-32; o) Ezekiel 36:26-27; p) Philippians 2:12-13; q) Philippians 3:13-15
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author