Change That Transforms

Scripture says: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:17-18)

So those who are in Christ – those who have committed their lives to Him - are completely transformed! We are new creations! Some times this is hard to believe.

In my book Changing Churches I compare Christ-like transformation to the dramatic change that happens when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Think about the complete metamorphosis a caterpillar experiences. The caterpillar must “die to “self.”  Buried in his cocoon for a while, at just the right time he struggles to emerge. A colorful creature appears. What an amazing change! What a marvelous transformation!

Are we new creations yet? Have we been transformed? We live a seemingly caterpillar life in this world much of the time. But as Christians we are being changed by His love and grace. Our change is a process engineered by the Holy Spirit. We are in Christ and He is in us. He molds and makes us after His will. We must renew our minds by soaking in His Word. We must “die to self” daily. When we do this focusing our eyes on Him we become new creations – like butterflies.

When “butterfly” Christians are unified as a church we are transformed into His Body here on earth. Are we amazed by this? I certainly am. Jesus said, “On this rock, I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). The rock is Peter’s recognition that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When the church is built on Him and His Word it will be a transforming church. We don’t transform ourselves, He does it. The early church lived in oneness with the Spirit and prayed continually. Ultimately they impacted the world.

Dear Father,

You are holy, holy, holy. You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Help us yield to your Holy Spirit, die to self and live transformed lives. Use us as channels for your transforming love, so the world may know that Jesus Christ is Lord.

In his precious name we pray. Amen.

May your life be filled with His transforming goodness and grace.

Blessings in Christ, Dottie