Becoming

Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Around my house, we have an ongoing joke that my husband is going through the process of progressive “Eddie”fication rather than the process of progressive sanctification. I'm not referring to edification here- the building up of the body- this is more of a joke. His dad is named Eddie, and it seems like every day he becomes more and more like him. They are so similar in looks, mannerisms, likes, dislikes, and quirks. He is becoming his father just as each of us is becoming something.

Have you ever heard that you become the average of the five people you spend most of your time around? The more you spend time with people the more you begin to mirror them. Have you ever noticed that friend groups tend to dress alike, have similar interests, similar goals, and have similar hobbies? It is a psychological phenomenon. You become like others naturally.

Becoming more and more like Jesus each day is unnatural. The process of progressive sanctification is so very contrary to what we as people do naturally. When we spend time with others, they change us from the outside in. The Spirit of God does the opposite. He changes people from the inside out.

Take a minute to take stock of your life. Do you look more like your friends, your family, or Jesus? Is he transforming you through the process of progressive sanctification, more and more every day into his image? If he isn't’ - asks yourself the hard question of why. Every child of God is on their path of progressive sanctification - where are you?

Author Bio

Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and a doctoral student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.