The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
We can’t grow more like Christ
Through force,
Through duty, rituals,
Or shame.
We can’t grow more like Christ
Through guilt,
Through nagging, brainwashing,
Or pain.
We can’t grow more like Christ
Through fear,
Or threats of punishment
In hell –
We only grow like Christ
Through loving God,
And others,
And ourselves.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).
Love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others] (Matthew 22:39; AMP).
References
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).
Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).