GOD’S CALL AND OUR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION
We are transformed by grace to show the mercies of God to others, who need to be changed. The need of our day is a heart change.
Paul said to the Romans:
“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2 (HCSB)
A heart change will transform you. People do not need to stop living in hate, drinking, smoking, cussing, gambling, sinning, stealing, cheating, and a sundry of other things. No, they cannot and do not even need to try. People need a heart change. When Jesus comes along and changes the heart, then individuals will want to stop those things in order to be a good witness of the transforming power of an awe-inspiring God who has worked Grace and mercy in their lives.
Again, Paul writing to the Ephesians, said:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through ⌊His⌋ kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (HCSB)
Environmental change, change of destructive habits, job changes, even changes in our health for a time are all good and to be admired; but most likely will only be for a short time. Lifestyle change is to be applauded, but can only take care of a present, pressing struggle for an immediate time. A heart change will affect the now and eternity.
This is why we find the words of Paul such powerful, consuming words: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…” (verse 1)
Paul was Saul, on a mission to persecute the church – the people of God. The Jewish council in Jerusalem gave him the authority to persecute the followers of Jesus Christ. But while he was on his way to Damascus, God met him and showed him who Paul was and who Paul was to be.
His testimony is found in Acts 22, beginning at verse 6 and his defense is found in Acts 24, beginning at verse 10. These verses give true evidence of a life changed by the wonderful, marvelous work of an almighty God.
That encounter with God brought a personal transformation into his life. It made him obedient to God’s voice and value others. He was no longer the same man.
Transformed to Transform
Paul now calls the same people he has persecuted, “saints, with all those in every place who on the name of Jesus Christ our lord.”
“To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—⌊both⌋ their Lord and ours.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 (HCSB)
Despite all the diversity, he began to see the Church as Christ’s body which belonged to God that God belonged to the Jews and the Gentiles alike. This is reason he would say to the Romans:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
He admired the church as a place where people of God experienced God’s grace and peace.
Throughout the epistles, he prays for God’s grace and peace to be with the church – the followers of Christ. The Modern day church still prays the same prayer.
Yes, we still need that prayer in the 21st Century! We must seek God “in a time such as this” for God’s grace and peace within the church. We must show a transformed life; a changed heart!
From being a persecutor of the church to becoming a lover of the Church. It can only be attributed to a heart change! An encounter with the living God: an unexpected and timely change in the life of the one who rebelling, “kicking against the pricks.”
Do you really think Saul expected to meet God on the Damascus Road? Do you really think he thought God would knock him down with a blinding light? That God would speak to him? That God would send him away, being led by friends, because he could not see?
Same is true of all believers. Our encounter with God was unexpected. But at the right time, at the appropriate time, Jesus reached down, through the Spirit of the Living God, touched us and caused us to look on our filthy rags and God’s sinlessness and bridged the gap with His only begotten Son, transforming our hearts. (Read: Romans 10:9-13 HCSB)
Paul’s life had undergone a paradigm shift because of that encounter with God. An encounter he hardly expected, especially when he was on his way to persecute the same God. Oftentimes, we find ourselves rebelling against God. During such times we become blinded by the things which we see so clearly, we miss what things are by faith. We seem to enjoy the life we are entrenched in and refuse to focus on an answer right before us.
That’s exactly where He meets us! That’s when and where he shows us who we are and who we should be. He qualifies us according to His grace transforms us. All we have to do is listen to the of God, obey Him, turn away from and be ready to be transformed. If we allow God act in our lives, He is faithful to put our old self behind us and give us a brand-new beginning, which will be a blessing not only to us but for generations to come.
We are transformed as God shows us who we are and what we can become. He qualifies us according to His grace and transforms us. We listen to the Word of God, we obey His voice, we turn away from our old ways and God does the work to change our heart and life.
If we allow God to act in our lives, He is faithful to put our old self behind as and give us a brand new beginning, which will bless us and those around us.
The process is both immediate and continual. We are changed in the heart and we continue to be changed until that glorious day when “all things are made new.
Pray:
“Father, it difficult to live a transformed life, but in Your strength and Your power, through the enabling of the Holy Spirit who lives within us who belong to You, we are able to walk in Your light and Your life. May we shine for You, chasing away the darkness and bringing hope to a lost, lonely world. Amen.”
Consider an exercise:
Reflect today on Ephesians 2 as you remember where you have come from and where you are going.
You may request a copy of this devotional guide for use in your personal devotions or for copying to use in a small group study within your church. Request your PDF copy by email at drfuller@rockfordbaptistchurch.org today!
