Tozer in the Morning – Christ the Sacrifice Receiver
In the New Testament, John tried to tell us about God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14). John the Mystic tried to tell us how great God is. The Apostle Paul also gave us insight on who God is. . . . And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ (Colossians 2:15-17). Why am I giving you all these passages of Scripture? Because I want to tell you who it is who says, “Present your bodies to me. Take your cross and follow me. Give yourself wholly to me. Surrender to me. Concentrate upon me and learn to be fascinated by me.” He is the only One who can say it.
Tozer in the Evening – Running Toward the Goal
The true Christian, though he is in revolt against the world’s efforts to brainwash him, is no mere rebel for rebellion’s sake. He dissents from the world because he knows that it cannot make good on its promises. He has tasted the pleasures of society and he knows that they leave a bitter taste; and he has found that blessing of the Lord of which the wise man speaks, which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it.
And the Christian is not left without a “norm” to which he seeks to become adjusted. The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the norm, the ideally perfect model, and the worshiping soul yearns to be like Him. Indeed the whole drive behind the Christian life is this longing to be conformed to the image of Christ. The energy with which the believing man revolts against conformity to the image of unregenerate society will be in exact proportion to the intensity of his yearning to be like Christ.
The classic expression of this burning desire to be Christlike is, of course, Paul’s personal testimony in his letter to the Philippian Christians which begins, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ,” and ends with the fervent declaration, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 3:7-14).