God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.

He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it.

Christ-likeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.

Christ-likeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation.

We allow Christ to live through us. "For this is the secret: Christ lives in you."

How does this happen in real life? Through the choices we make. We choose to do the right thing in situations and then trust God's Spirit to give us his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it.

Since God's Spirit lives inside of us, these things are always available for the asking.

Sadly, a quick review of many popular Christian books reveals that many believers have abandoned living for God's great purposes and settled for personal fulfillment and emotional stability. That is narcissism, not discipleship.

Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven.

This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.

Source: Rick Warren, the author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.