I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
True transformation can come once we ensure that we don’t conform to the things of the world. We are not just saved to go to heaven but we are saved to be reformed and to become like Christ. When we become like Christ, we manifest His character, love, grace, power, glory and touch lives in the earth.
Transformation is when we come to a place with our relationship with God where we are no longer satisfied with just maintaining the status quo of our salvation. God doesn’t want us to remain where we are. He wants us to change our attitude and the way we think. God accepts us as we are but He doesn’t want to leave us where we are, He wants to rearrange us. God is working on the inside of us. He won’t give up on us until we are transformed into the image of Christ.
When God renews our minds, true transformation comes from the inside out. The more we submit to God, the more change there will be. When we live by the word and hear the word, change takes place. If transformation is not taking place then coming to church would be a joke. We come together so that the Spirit of God can change us. God wants to fundamentally change everything about us. As followers of Jesus, it is necessary for us to always be changing, growing and learning.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
The Apostle Paul went through many things for Christ. He was persecuted and pleased God in everything that he did. In order for transformation to take place:
– We must recognise that we have not yet achieved everything in Christ. We must always be at a place of wanting more.
– We must recognise that we have not yet arrived.
– We must keep working towards that day.
– We must focus our energies on moving forward in Christ to reach our goals.
We need to forget about our past in order for us to be truly transformed. We miss what God is saying because we focus what people said and did to us. The past is the past. We live in the used to be and the should’ve been instead of the present. Our true identity is not found in the past but in Christ. God does not judge you on what you did then. Wherever you are today, you can go much deeper in God.
Why are people so reluctant to change?
– People just don’t want to change because of bitterness and resentment.
– They believe they are all right.
– They are afraid of the unknown. It may look unknown to us but certain if God says so. We just need to trust Him.
– Apathy is present in their lives. We become lazy for the things of God. Transformation demands a mental and spiritual conversion.
– They don’t apply the Word of God to their lives. When we apply the Word of God, change comes. The word of God is powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13
When the truth confronts us, it confronts our present position. It reorders our lives and dictates what is suppose to be done in our life so that change can come. When truth impacts our life, we have a decision to make. If we would stay at the same place or if we are going to change. A transformed life is a powerful life.
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