CHRISTIANS, HOW IS YOUR TRANSFORMATION GOING?

"DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS PRESENT WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, SO THAT YOU MAY TEST AND APPROVE WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD - WHAT IS GOOD AND PLEASING AND PERFECT."                 (Romans 12:2 NET)

     The world sometimes looks at Christians as being people who claim to be perfect. Nothing could be further from the truth! True Christians do not claim to be perfect. In point of fact, Christians are acutely aware that they are NOT perfect. Christians know that they are imperfect sinners who have been saved by the blood of Jesus. Christians are people who are daily trying to be holy because God calls us to holiness. He tells us to be holy...why? He tells us to be holy because He is holy, that's why! However, aiming at a target and hitting that target are two different things. Every true Christian knows this fact all too well!

     The verse from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, quoted above, calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. How does one renew their minds you may be asking yourself? I submit that we renew our minds by what we put into them. What we watch, what we read and what we listen to has a profound effect upon our minds, either for good or for ill. The old computer programmer's cliche "Garbage in, Garbage out!" applies to the mind as well.

     Christian, how is your "transformation" going? What are your putting into your mind? Do you read the Bible every day? Do you read books that expound upon Christian Doctrine or Christian Living? Do you concern yourself with furthering the great commission of Matthew 28:18? Do you spend time in prayer daily? How do you pray? What do you pray about? Do you truly talk to God as if He were standing right in front of you or are your prayers more perfunctory in tone and/or content?

     The Apostle Peter, in the first chapter of his second letter, exhorts all of us "to make every effort" to (1) add excellence to our faith; (2) To add knowledge to our excellence; (3) To add self control to our knowledge; (4) To add perseverance to our self control; (5) To add godliness to our perseverance; (6) To add brotherly affection to our godliness; and (7) To add unselfish love to our brotherly affection.
     The Apostle Peter tells us that if these things are truly ours AND they are continually increasing inside us they will keep us from becoming ineffective and unproductive in our pursuit to know our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

     God tells us that if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us! God says that if we diligently seek Him, that is to "make every effort" to seek Him, we will find Him. You will find God in the pages of His Holy Word, the Bible. You may draw near to God through prayer.

     Christian, how is your "transformation" going? If it is not as it should be, start today to make it what it should be. Repent and begin your walk with God anew. It's not too late. As long as you're on this side of the grass you have time to change. The great thing is that God will help you effect that change. "So, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..." Christian, let the transformation begin!

     Also, please do not forget to worship God this Sunday. God bless you!