Day 22: Grateful for a Transformed Life!
2And 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 12:2 NKJV
The New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
The Apostle Paul reminds us in nearly everyone of his letters to the churches that in and through Jesus Christ each of us is to have a transformed life. In today’s scriptures Paul expresses that reality in two different ways: 1) He tells us that we are to be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds: 2And 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 12:2 NKJV*; and 2) He tells us that when we belong to Jesus Christ we become a “new person”: 17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT Both Scriptures point out the reality that our lives MUST be changed. If we live the way we were born, if we live our lives in the “flesh” or the old nature, then we are destined to live the “old” life, a life of sin and separation from God. But that isn’t God’s design for us. In fact, God created us in “original goodness”--without sin. Only when Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and chose to become like God did the need for transformation come to humanity. Before the “fall,” as Adam and Eve’s succumbing to sin is called, Adam and Eve reflected the image and likeness of God. Now, in order to have that image and likeness restored, we must be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds, and become “new” by becoming one with Jesus Christ. As we go about this week, we are going to see some of the ways God brings about that transformation in our lives, what our part is in that transformation, and how necessary it is for us to offer God our gratitude for that transformation!
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
According to Paul, what must we do in order to be transformed? What are some specific examples of that in your daily life?
Becoming a new person requires that we “belong to Christ.” Do you belong to Him? If so, how did that take place in your life? What evidence is there that you belong to Him? If you don’t belong to Jesus--and you want to--call Pastor Chris at 724-352-4196 to see what you need to do!
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*The New King James Version New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.