Christ Formed in Me
"When Christ is formed in me, His light begins to shine through every part of who I am."
Bob Hoekstra’s devotional draws our attention beyond the moment of salvation to the ongoing purpose of the Christian life: that Christ would be formed in us. Paul expresses this desire with parental intensity, saying he labors in birth again for the Galatian believers—not for their rebirth, but for their transformation. They had already received Jesus by faith, becoming children of God, but now Paul groans with a shepherd’s concern that the life of Christ would take full shape in them.
This isn’t about behavior management or moral improvement. It’s about union and expression. Jesus doesn’t merely live in us as a quiet resident—we are invited to let Him be revealed through us in every part of life. The challenges and choices we face daily are not just situations to navigate—they are opportunities for Christ to show Himself in and through us. As Paul reminds the Corinthians, Jesus Christ is in you. Not metaphorically. Not symbolically. Actually.
Yet, many believers remain unaware of this indwelling reality. Whether by ignorance or forgetfulness, they live as though Christ is distant, instead of letting Him be their life. Hoekstra reminds us: it is both a privilege and a labor to walk alongside others until they, too, begin to rest in the indwelling Christ and allow Him to be expressed moment by moment.
Journal Entry — In the Voice of the Holy Spirit
You are not alone. I am in you.
The Son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you now lives through you. This life you live in the flesh, you live by faith in Him. I have united you to Christ, not in concept but in living union, so that His patience, His joy, His peace, and His purpose are no longer distant ideals but present realities in you.
I am forming Christ in you—not by your striving, but by your resting, your trusting, your yielding. I have sealed this truth in My Word: Christ in you, the hope of glory. He dwells in your heart by faith. He walks with you in each decision, speaks through you in love, waits patiently in your trials, and pours Himself into every corner of your relationships and thoughts.
Do not measure your maturity by how well you imitate Christ. Instead, receive the truth that He is your very life. As you abide in Him, you will bear much fruit—not by effort, but by the outflow of His indwelling presence. I am always working within you to will and to do what pleases the Father.
Let Me remind you: you are a new creation. Old things have passed away. In every place your mind wanders, bring it back to this truth—Jesus is not far off. He is in you. And I am forming Him in you, shaping your awareness, tuning your affections, and making His life visible through yours.
Verses woven into this section: Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; Ephesians 3:17; Philippians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Prayer
Father, I rejoice in the truth that Christ lives in me. You’ve made this union possible, not through anything I’ve done, but through Your love and grace. I trust You, Holy Spirit, to make the life of Jesus visible in every situation I face today. Thank You that I don’t need to fabricate fruit—I simply yield, and Christ is formed in me. Whether through joy or sorrow, clarity or confusion, Your Son is always enough. So I walk into this day confident not in myself, but in Your life within me. Amen.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash