The title of my post today is “A TRANSFORMED LIFE—HOW ABOUT YOU?” In the pictures in my thumbnail for this post, I looked much more handsome, with much more hair as a youth than I do today. But I was really a miserable, insecure mess. At 23, however, God 'changed' my life first—then began 'transforming' it to make me useful in telling others about Him. What would it take for God to first change, then transform you?
Romans 12:2 says the following: “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.” When I read that verse, I wondered to myself, “Wasn’t I transformed on the day of my Grandpa’s funeral in 1977?” I think we have to distinguish between being changed and being transformed.
I know for a fact that God met me in my car that day, saved me, and changed me. I often say about that day, “I went back to Grandpa’s farm a changed man.” I was not yet, however, transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I could discern what the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God was.
What then is the difference between a person being changed and a person being transformed? Carey Nieuwhof, a bestselling author, speaker, and church planter, wrote the following. “There’s a big difference between change and transformation.”
Jesus made it clear to His disciples in Matthew 28 that one major component of God’s perfect will is to “go and make disciples.” What do I have to do to prepare myself to go and make disciples? I have to be transformed and live a transformed life.
How about you? Do you also want to live a transformed life—to also go and make disciples?
See you next time.
Romans 12:2 says the following: “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.” When I read that verse, I wondered to myself, “Wasn’t I transformed on the day of my Grandpa’s funeral in 1977?” I think we have to distinguish between being changed and being transformed.
I know for a fact that God met me in my car that day, saved me, and changed me. I often say about that day, “I went back to Grandpa’s farm a changed man.” I was not yet, however, transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I could discern what the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God was.
What then is the difference between a person being changed and a person being transformed? Carey Nieuwhof, a bestselling author, speaker, and church planter, wrote the following. “There’s a big difference between change and transformation.”
- "Change", Nieuwhof wrote, “Always begins a new set of behaviors.” When I went back to my Grandpa’s funeral visitation after God saved me, I knew immediately that my behaviors were going to make a drastic change. I knew that I would no longer use drugs or drink alcohol, and I now had the chance to have a wonderful friend in Jesus, whereas before I had no real good friends.
- "Transformation", on the other hand, Nieuwhof wrote, “Modifies values and desires.” He gave the example of transformation when many Israelites, struggling in the wilderness, wanted to return to Egypt, despite now being free. He wrote that their values and desires had to be transformed for them to embrace freedom as better than reverting to what was familiar.
Jesus made it clear to His disciples in Matthew 28 that one major component of God’s perfect will is to “go and make disciples.” What do I have to do to prepare myself to go and make disciples? I have to be transformed and live a transformed life.
How about you? Do you also want to live a transformed life—to also go and make disciples?
See you next time.
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