Predestined To Be

I had a sincere question come to mind in the middle of the night so I began to research it.

Do we really have to change our personalities with all of our natural God predestined qualities to live our life, in order to be like Christ?

Many of you who really know me; know that I normally go with my emotions rather than logic. I act and react emotionally and impulsively. A friend said you put a whole lot of yourself into loving others and because you love everybody you don’t ever want to see someone’s heart hurting.  Even when it is not on you…you love big. 

God gave me this ability as I’m sure He has some of you. Unfortunately, even though it is great it can also be a great detriment. not taking the time to think things through can get me into trouble. And sometimes it’s not because my instincts are wrong, but because I end up in situations I’m just not always prepared for at that moment.  I may reach out for help not always in the way others understand or feel I should which can cause more problems.

As I was researching I realized that my life resonated with Peter’s.  Jesus didn’t have him change his personality he let him be him.   

Often not thinking (or seeming like it at least) before he spoke and the way he “gets so involved in everything and is just so interested in what Jesus says.” Of all Jesus’ disciples, we have the most information about Peter.

Not only was he a part of the Lord’s inner circle, but also, due to his enthusiasm, he was also at the center of many gospel stories. He was zealous and impulsive.  Matthew 14:22-33When he walked on the water. Here we see Peter acting on the right inclination, but then he finds himself in over his head (pun intended).

In Matthew 17:1-6 There Jesus was transfigured before him and in in his enthusiasm  he saw  this big picture that turned into this idea “I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’  His response to this unusual experience is typical of what I would do . It’s not that his idea of building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah was bad per se. It’s just that it was impulsive and not well-thought-out.   Wonder if Matthew remembered it for posterity.

Although our tendency to speak before thinking can lead to a lot of foot-in-mouth, this attribute also comes with its strengths. It’s Peter who has the presence of mind to stand up and say something in the second chapter of Acts. In the tumultuous situation surrounding the Spirit’s arrival and the crowd’s response to the chaos, Peter preaches to the crowd, and over 3,000 people choose to follow Jesus.

In Luke 22:55-61 One of the best things about being in touch with his feelings so much good comes out of the ability to respond in emotionally appropriate ways and build relationships based on an empathetic nature. But the effect of stress made him respond in irrational and unpredictable ways. When Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times, if we found ourselves in this situation would we respond like Peter did?  It is extremely likely that I would do so even after saying I wouldn’t  It can be hard for me to get my bearings in an overly stressful and demanding situation. Luke 22:62 we see in the moment he realizes that he has indeed failed Jesus. He weeps bitterly.  He had failed Jesus.  Being the warmest, kindest and empathetic person, we care passionately about how people think and feel. We tend to take our failures in stride-unless we feel we’ve hurt or betrayed someone. That failure will eat us up.

In John 21:7 after Jesus’ death, the disciples return to what they know best-fishing. When the resurrected Jesus shows up but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” His response is so perfectly Peter and demonstrates the best thing about him. 

He enthusiastically jumps overboard and swims out to Jesus.  He doesn’t let his shame keep him from his Lord. Peter values reconciliation and relational restoration even more than his dignity.

God Himself is the one who has formed us. He loves us as we are, and He has given each of us our personalities and a set of qualities that are individual and unique to us. We don’t have to change our personalities to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) but are called to follow Him and serve Him as unique individuals.

Becoming like Christ does requires us to purify ourselves in obedience to God’s Word. We follow Jesus’ example of condemning sin in our own flesh. By doing this, we become like Him! We are freed out from things like fear of man, anxiety, jealousy, impurity, pride, and selfishness and we increase in Jesus’ virtues each day.

Sin no longer binds and restricts our thoughts and actions! We are free to be ourselves and can be confident in what we do and say out of a pure heart, no matter what personality we possess.

God has prepared works for each one of us. In Ephesians 2:10 it’s written, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Likewise, there are things that only you and your personality can accomplish and it is God’s desire that He can use you and your unique personality to carry out a variety of good works! When each of us purifies ourselves in obedience to God’s Word, we will become more and more like Christ. Not only that, we will also become more and more free to be an individual in Christ, just as God intended.

Psalm 139:13-14  You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am wonderfully made; awesome are your works, as I know very well.   Trust HIM and His ways always!  Remember we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.