November 23, 2018 CHANGE
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Other than being older, and maybe a few pounds heavier, are you different now than you were a year ago? If so, in what way are you different? We all experience physical change, but I am talking about a spiritual change that results in how we think, how we respond, etc. If we find that there has been no change in our inner man, then that is a sure sign we are due for a spiritual check-up. What we see in the verse above regarding change, far exceeds the results of what the ‘self-improvement’ movement has to offer. For sure, there is value in taking steps to improve ourselves, such as eating the right food, exercise, and developing a healthy thought life. However, the change we are talking about, is more than change-it is a transformation of our inner most being, our core, our spirit. This transformation does not come through self effort, but comes as a result of something we do, and perhaps without us even being aware of the transformation taking place. Being transformed is not to be our goal; the goal is to behold the Lord, to know Him better, to be amazed by who He is, to meditate on Him. The amazing thing that happens, the miracle, is that in the process of beholding Him, of meditating on Him, and learning of Him through His word, we are being transformed into His image! We are transformed when we come to know Him as Savior, but we also are being transformed as our knowledge and understanding of Him and His ways increases. As mentioned above, there is much attention given in the world on self-improvement and self-fulfillment; however, even in Christian circles, even in the church, perhaps in a subtle way, there is an emphasis on how we need to change ourselves, how we are to be better Christians, etc. We are often told that we need to study God’s word more, we need to pray more, we need to give more, we need to serve more, we need to memorize scripture, and etc. These are certainly good things to do, but if we think lasting change comes through doing these things, we will be disappointed and we will not be transformed. Sad to say, but many have spent decades, even their entire life trying to do the things that ‘good’ Christians do; and even sadder is that that is the message they have heard from well-meaning teachers and preachers. The good news is that living the life as depicted in the scriptures is a result of something-a result of the change that takes place in us as we behold Him-as our core is transformed. As they say, we can ‘have the cart before the horse’ thinking that change is our responsibility and our duty. We do not have to live our life chasing the spiritual rabbit we never seem to be able to catch. We must ask ourselves what is it that captures our attention and what is it that our heart desires above all else. The good news, the freeing news is that ‘beholding’ Him, brings about transformation in us, and all of the things that God calls us to do and to be, become natural for us; no longer do we have to try to please Him. If it is our chief desire to know Him more fully, we will not be disappointed-and we will be transformed into His image.
1 Corinthians 1:10 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Blessings,
Buddy
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Other than being older, and maybe a few pounds heavier, are you different now than you were a year ago? If so, in what way are you different? We all experience physical change, but I am talking about a spiritual change that results in how we think, how we respond, etc. If we find that there has been no change in our inner man, then that is a sure sign we are due for a spiritual check-up. What we see in the verse above regarding change, far exceeds the results of what the ‘self-improvement’ movement has to offer. For sure, there is value in taking steps to improve ourselves, such as eating the right food, exercise, and developing a healthy thought life. However, the change we are talking about, is more than change-it is a transformation of our inner most being, our core, our spirit. This transformation does not come through self effort, but comes as a result of something we do, and perhaps without us even being aware of the transformation taking place. Being transformed is not to be our goal; the goal is to behold the Lord, to know Him better, to be amazed by who He is, to meditate on Him. The amazing thing that happens, the miracle, is that in the process of beholding Him, of meditating on Him, and learning of Him through His word, we are being transformed into His image! We are transformed when we come to know Him as Savior, but we also are being transformed as our knowledge and understanding of Him and His ways increases. As mentioned above, there is much attention given in the world on self-improvement and self-fulfillment; however, even in Christian circles, even in the church, perhaps in a subtle way, there is an emphasis on how we need to change ourselves, how we are to be better Christians, etc. We are often told that we need to study God’s word more, we need to pray more, we need to give more, we need to serve more, we need to memorize scripture, and etc. These are certainly good things to do, but if we think lasting change comes through doing these things, we will be disappointed and we will not be transformed. Sad to say, but many have spent decades, even their entire life trying to do the things that ‘good’ Christians do; and even sadder is that that is the message they have heard from well-meaning teachers and preachers. The good news is that living the life as depicted in the scriptures is a result of something-a result of the change that takes place in us as we behold Him-as our core is transformed. As they say, we can ‘have the cart before the horse’ thinking that change is our responsibility and our duty. We do not have to live our life chasing the spiritual rabbit we never seem to be able to catch. We must ask ourselves what is it that captures our attention and what is it that our heart desires above all else. The good news, the freeing news is that ‘beholding’ Him, brings about transformation in us, and all of the things that God calls us to do and to be, become natural for us; no longer do we have to try to please Him. If it is our chief desire to know Him more fully, we will not be disappointed-and we will be transformed into His image.
1 Corinthians 1:10 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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