Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

My first encounter with God went like this; I was an angry teen who did not know why. I said in my heart “I don’t want to be like this.” Wham, instantly I was changed. I was no longer angry. I didn’t know how God did it, I just knew it was dome through no effort on my part.

Years later as I was reading Romans 8 for the millionth time, I thought to myself, “I want to be like that.” In some remote part of my brain I was hoping that God would once again perform a suddenly, wham I would be like Jesus through no effort on my part. Rather than doing that, I was led to another passage of scripture.

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

“But Lord that isn’t what I asked?”

No, it is the answer.

There is no instant answer to conformance. The beginning is a mindset, to think and believe as the mind of Christ. Then to act on those beliefs. It is not in our human or worldly nature to serve, it is to dominate. We change the world by force. Christ change the world by serving.

God has been very patient with me during my change, much more patient than I deserve. God knows me and that my conversion is going to be a long process. But if I was honest with God in what I wanted when I said “Make me!” then I should be patient in how He accomplishes that end.