After conversion, we grow in the character of Christ by looking to God. “But we all,” wrote Paul, “with our open faces, as in a mirror, beholding the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord's Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).
The principle of character development "from glory to glory" is partially based on the principle of communication: the more time we spend with someone, the more we become like him. This is especially true for the transitional periods of life. This is clearly seen in the example of the relationship between father and son or mother and daughter, where often, especially with good family relations, a child grows up and becomes like one of his parents, reflecting the same manners, intonation in his voice, temperament.
I spent many years forming my personality with my grandfather, and one of the most vivid childhood memories is the desire to grow up and become "like my grandfather." He made his living selling horses and training them, and as you can imagine, he was a very rude and harsh man. I still remember how I was with him when he examined the horse that interested him. I stood behind him with my hands on my hips, spitting and grumbling angrily just like him. At that age, he was ideal for me.
Later, the person who led me to Christ also became my role model. He went through some difficult circumstances that were part of the "cleansing fire" in his spiritual development, and which developed an unusually strong character in him. Ganner (his nickname) was a great evangelist, and my first exposure to the Christian ministry came when I followed him everywhere, watching, listening, and learning as he preached the gospel. I knew all of his examples, stories, jokes - and I could tell them almost better than him. I was soon able to start my own ministry and do the same work myself. And all because I imitated this man and his ministry.
The same happens when we follow the Lord. We become more and more like him when we spend time with him, imitating him in everything.
