Spiritual formation is the intentional practice of pursuing Christ-like character in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, who is transforming our spirit into the likeness of Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. The goal of a disciple is to be like Jesus. If we want to be like Jesus, we have to do more than just act like Jesus; we have to form the Spirit of Jesus within us so that our motives, attitudes, and thoughts are like Jesus. One role of the Holy Spirit is to assist us in becoming like Jesus. We participate with the Holy Spirit by seeking the Christlike qualities so that our actions and words align with those qualities. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians exposes that the Corinthians have failed to become Christlike internally. They are getting drunk at Holy Communion, using their spiritual gifts to show superiority, and are sexually immoral. The primary Greek Temple in Corinth was dedicated to the God Aphrodite, who was the god of love and sex. Basically, Corinth was the Roman epicenter of a sex cult. After receiving the first letter, Titus comes to Paul from Corinth to let him know that the people of the Corinthian Church received his letter and have shifted their behavior and attitude. Paul wrote the second letter to encourage the Corinthians to pursue the inner qualities of the Spirit. Paul encourages them to live a life of grace, generosity, love, and reconciliation. This second letter includes concepts like “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,” “make every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ,” and “God’s grace is sufficient for you.” Paul assigned Titus to carry the letter back to Corinth. There are many lists in Scripture of the virtues of Jesus. Some of the virtues are being loving, compassionate, humble, temperate, kind, joyful, and patient. Take one each day for the next week and meditate on the virtue with the prayer of becoming more like Jesus in that area.



Lord God, today we seek to be more like Jesus, our Lord. By the power of your Holy Spirit, fill us with compassion so that our actions and words will reflect the compassion of Jesus within us.