Transformation

How often do you look into the mirror and wish you could change your appearance.  Maybe you want to be in better shape, or change your hair color, or lose some weight.  I think we all struggle with how we look at various times in our life.

Retailers know we want to change ourselves and focus their message accordingly.  How many times have you seen pills that will shed pounds, or drinks that give you energy?  How often do you see ways to make tons of money overnight?

It is hard to change the outside, and even more difficult to change the inside.

But that’s part God cares about…

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

Changing yourself isn't easy and it doesn't happen overnight.  It takes discipline and happens slowly.

God calls us to be “transformed”.  The Greek word for transformed is related to the English word metamorphosis.  Take for example a tadpole.  The tadpole starts its life swimming around the lake, but one day it will transform into a frog.  It will change its entire structure and morph from a swimmer that lives entirely in the water to a frog that lives entirely on land.  When the tadpole becomes a frog, it will be exactly as God intended.

We start to get transformed by the renewal of our minds.  Quite simply, renewing our minds by starting to think and ask ourselves WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).  When we start to pray and live for Jesus and have Jesus live through us, then we can be transformed in the person God wants us to be.

Today's Bible Study was packed, I counted 33 young men.  Before we talked about Romans 12:2, I played some videos for them.  The first two were music videos by a Christian rapper named Lecrae.  To be honest, rap music isn't my first choice, by Lecrae's music is powerful.  After those two videos, we watched a couple of i am second videos.

iamsecond.com has videos of athletes that have given their life to Christ and the videos share their story.  We watched Matt Barkley, QB @ USC and Bradie James, Inside Linebacker for the Houstan Texans.

Help me pray for these young men.

During the game last week, I witnessed one of them having a seizure on the sidelines during the game.  He is doing better today.  There were three young men total that left the game with concussions.

God is doing great things with this team.  The record is 1-5, but in God's eyes they are undefeated.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me - Phil 4:13