August 15 – A Standard To Transformation

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2 -   (ESV)

Do we ever wonder why we face difficulties and trials in our life.  After all, if we believe in God and have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, should we not have smooth sailing?  We all know that is not what happens, don't we?  We are reminded in our verse that there is a big difference between the way people in this world think and the way God thinks.  When we come to God in faith believing and enter His family He wants us to begin thinking the way He does.  Our verse says we need to have our minds renewed and that is what God is doing when He allows testing and trials to come our way.  When we turn to God, and not conform our thinking to the way “everyone else” does, we use what He has taught us, our minds are renewed, and we gain discernment into God's will  for our lives.  That is our promise.  Follow the path to renewal and we will know what God's will is according to His standard. 

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February 9 – A Promised Transformation

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”   Philippians 3:20-21   (NASB)

For those of us who are children of God, members of His family, we hold a special dual citizenship.  Each person is a citizen of some country on this earth and some even hold citizenship in more than one country in the world.  So it is not a strange idea that as children of God's family we also have a citizenship in heaven.  Heaven is where our eternal life comes from and where we will be after our physical life on earth is past.  But if we are living on the earth right now, we hold our citizenship in heaven as a promise from God.  One day, a day we are waiting for, our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave us eternal life, promises to come and transform our bodies from what they are into bodies that are like His.  Our verse not only gives us this promise but gives us the qualification Jesus has to fulfill it.  He has power and authority over all things and He will use that power in transforming our bodies to be like His.  

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July 25 – Passing Out Of and Into

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  John 5:24 (NASB)

We choose this verse especially because of the last words.  Jesus used these words because He knows what a big difference comes to us when we believe in God and in His Son Jesus.  Jesus said that when we believe we cross over from death to life –  He was speaking about our eternal state.  When we cross a river by boat or on a bridge we can look back and realize that we are now on the other side. In most places the difference may not be so great but just think of the great difference between eternal death and eternal life.  When we believe in Jesus a tremendous change takes place because of this promise.  Our lives are transformed and while our present bodies may die, our souls will live forever in God's presence – if we have believed in Him.  Now that's a promise we can hold onto and  treasure in our hearts.

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February 10 – Unhidden Glory

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

In the Old Testament, in Exodus 34, we read that Moses put a veil over his face when he had been in contact with God. That was because when Moses talked with God his face reflected the Glory of God so that the people were afraid. But in each case the glory shining from Moses' face gradually faded away.  Our verse today reminds us that God wants His glory to be reflected in our lives. His desire is that we become more and more like Him so that the glory of God which people see will always be increasing. And, there will be no need for a veil to hide God's glory. God want others to see His glory always, everyday in the way we live and love one another.  All that we do should bring glory to God our Lord and Savior.