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And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)

God is committed to the task of conforming you and me to the image of His Son. Not physically—He’s not making us look like Jesus looked physically—but inwardly: in character, in patience, in gentleness, in goodness, in grace, in truth, in discipline. He’s committed to conforming our lives to the inner character of His Son.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. (Luke 8:22–23)

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5–8)

I want to mention an example in which Jesus demonstrated His humanity—then immediately on the heels of that displayed His deity. Maybe you’ve never made such a study.

But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:10–11)

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. (Micah 5:2)

Beth-le-hem means “house of bread” in Hebrew. Insignificant as a tiny loaf of bread...yet the Lord, through the writing of a minor prophet eight centuries earlier, puts his finger on Bethlehem and announces that this place will be famous. Why, that’s like the President addressing Muleshoe, Texas, or Pea Ridge, Arkansas, saying, “From you there will come forth a great person.”

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 40:1–2)

When I mention the name of David, unfortunately, many people think first of his failure—and it is a glaring one. At the height of his career, he stumbled into lust. The lust turned into open adultery, the adultery led to murder, the murder led to deception—in fact, almost a year of lying to his people.

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4–5)

What’s true about life in general is also true about the Christian life in particular. You and I are in a little boat. And that little boat has put out to sea. We are on a journey toward knowing and obeying God. Have you noticed how few there are who stand alongside as we push out into the sea, saying, “Good for you! Go for it! You can make it! You’re on the right track! God be with you!”?

This is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

You might have the idea that if you take pen in hand and open the Bible and start in Genesis and work your way through to Revelation, you’ll have it all put together. You’ll not only understand everything about God, you’ll understand all the mysteries, right? Wrong!

This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: That they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8)

Some of you are getting downright serious about Bible study. Good for you! Since that is true, you need to get hold of some tools that will help you do that. I call these tools abuse-busters!