Nancy Taylor Tate
A quote from my dad, Wade Taylor, who is now with the Lord:
“We are called to attain to the quality of the life of Jesus. In ‘that day’ when we stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ, our life will be ‘measured’ against His life. We will not be graded ‘quantitatively’ by all that we have accomplished, but rather ‘qualitatively’ by what we have become.” (See Turn Us Again by Wade Taylor on www.wadetaylor.org)
Embracing this simple yet profound truth has changed my life. It’s wonderful the things I have been able to “do” through the years, as at times I have served as an administrator, teacher, missionary, or pastor, and presently, as I oversee www.wadetaylor.org and Parousia Ministries.
Yet, more important, is what I have “become” while doing these things. Even more important: What am I “becoming” today through choices I am making now? Am I maturing spiritually? Am I allowing my self-life to be dealt with, that increasingly more of Christ might be seen in me? Am I just talking about the Lord, or is His life being formed in me and seen through my actions and words?
We are to be a witness of Him! (Acts 1:8 KJV) As He is, so are we to be in the world! (1 John 4:17) This focus—not on accomplishments, but on becoming “as He is”—has absolutely changed my life and continues to challenge me day by day. How often we miss this life-changing truth and the present working of the Holy Spirit. Without this, what I “do” may benefit others, but it will not necessarily benefit me.
“…I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal…I am nothing…it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
My prayer today is this: That as He is, so we will be. That we will so yield our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and so allow His Holy Spirit to work within our hearts, that we will not be the same people we were yesterday, but each day, we will be more like Christ.
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17
Not everything that happens in this life is good. However, Romans 8:26-27 speaks of the intercession of the Holy Spirit for us; then in verse 28, God promises He will take “all things” and work them together for our good as we set our love on Him. Verse 29 goes on to say, “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.”
When I truly saw Christ’s intercession for me and this great potential, what before were just mundane or, at times, even painful situations, became opportunities, as I learned to yield my heart to the Lord in trust, allowing His Spirit to work inside of me.
Song of Solomon 8:5 asks, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?”
“The wilderness” speaks of a place of testing. “Leaning” speaks of a reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ. As we learn to submit our lives to Him, it “becomes” no longer our old nature, desires, reactions, or opinions that rule us, but His nature, as “who He is” finds expression through us.
What a testimony as we grow into “becoming” like Him. We become one with Him!
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20-21
As I learn to value and invite the Lord’s work in my life and you allow the Lord to work in you, that which brings disunity is washed away, and in Christ Jesus, we are made one.
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
As a redeemed people made one in Christ Jesus, may we find ourselves a part of those singing this new song:
“…Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
The Lord’s desire is that together we will “become” a witness and testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ in every circumstance or place we find ourselves (Acts 1:8).
Jesus is coming back to be seen and admired in a people! (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
“Every man that has this hope inside him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3)
How do we purify ourselves? Through the choices we make. How do we make right choices? Jesus promised He would not leave us without strength (John 14:18). The Holy Spirit, who lives inside those who believe, gives discernment and reveals truth. He gives us strength to make right choices. We make these choices until, before long, it becomes not just my “choice” but my very “nature” to respond even as Jesus would respond. “As He is” so we are experientially becoming.
Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8). Character is formed. We are called to be partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This is the work of the Holy Spirit today—the formation of Christ IN us, the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)
Judicially, I am saved through faith. Experientially, I am “becoming” as He is! From that position, I will “do” certain things, but they will flow from what I have “become.”
My witness is what I am becoming. Paul said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12).
Today, may we yield to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, that we might, moment by moment, make right choices, as we allow the Lord to work within our hearts. He must increase! We must decrease (John 3:30), so more of Jesus is seen in us.