Be Ye Transformed

Rom 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


Change is at the heart of Christian life. While our election happened while we were yet sinners (Eph 1:4), the desire of the lord is that we are all transformed and rid of our sin nature. (Mat 1:21) The desire of the lord is that the ministers whom the lord has entrusted the believers to, will present "every man perfect in Christ" (col 1:28). God wants us to conform to the very image of His son, and that's the very purpose of his election. (Rom 8:29)

Dear friend, Believe earnestly that the lord is at work perfecting us, allowing us to go through all the circumstances in our life (which he has hand-crafted) in order to bring us closer to this goal.

• He allows the various circumstances (including the unpleasant ones) to happen in our life to reveal the aspects and attitudes which need correction
• And then he cleanses us progressively as we repent and ask Him for the necessary overcoming grace

This is how we are transformed from Glory to Glory - 2 Cor 3:18 - through many cycles of repentance, till we behold His face. Man is far from perfect at the time of the call, but as we allow God to work on us and change us, the lord will complete the task according to his promise towards us.

Here's a passage that spoke to me regarding change. Many of us naturally resist change. The lord wants us to embrace the change that he brings about in our life. When we are unsettled by the lord, it means He is in control and about to do something amazing in our lives.
Jer 48:11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed

Can you look at your life where God has allowed circumstances where you simply cannot continue as you are ? You may pray, fast, cry out to the lord, rebuke the efforts of satan, exercise the spiritual authority - expecting others to be changed ! After all, isn't it easier that others change and make the world a better place to live? Not so ! God's more keen to transform his children than transforming the world. God wants me and you to change!

What happens if wine stays in the bottle for too long? The dregs are settled. The flavor of the dregs comes into the wine. The good taste of wine is corrupted by the dregs (which is not meant to be consumed). It's taste doesn't get refined. It's aroma doesn't become more robust and full. The wine is spoilt and is good for throwing out or for making vinegar.

This word says - we need frequent pouring out, and unsettling to remove all the bad stuff from us. The works of the flesh, self, pride, love for the world, and every thing contrary to the nature of God has to be sent out of us! For that , we need to accept the occasional captivity that the lord may lead us to. The occasional trial of faith, or the trial of fire, purifies us and gets us more transformed to His image.

Dear friend, anyone who has wanted to be used by the lord has gone through this process. The word of God has many analogies for this process; It's likened to a refining of metal, it's likened to washing to make clean, it's compared to the process of creating a pot. May we always understand that the hand of the maker is never far from us in the life situations which he ordains to change us!

All men of God have gone through this process. There's so much in us which we have to rid of! And yet, see the patience of the lord that He doesn't give up even when he sees our (sometimes) bitter attitude. Phil 1:6 says - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ.

Moses was a man who had serious shortcomings as a person chosen to shepherd the children of Israel through the wilderness. But to qualify for that, he had to have his heart of anger (formed in the worldly and princely training of Egypt) transformed into a soft and gentle heart that a shepherd needs. The lord in his mercy broke him in the wilderness, when he (as a man on the run) was made a shepherd over his Father-in-law's sheep. There are few things more degrading for an Egyptian prince than that. And yet, at the end of the 40 years of breaking and molding, Moses was a transformed man who had lost his self-confidence and gained a lot of God-confidence; Who had lost all his anger and gained the heart of a father and a shepherd to even intercede for the children of Israel when they angered God. God says Moses was the most faithful in all his house (Num 12:8). In fact, the word of God records moses as the meekest man on the face of earth. (Num 12:3)

Can we humbly submit before the careful hands of God for Him to pour us , to transform us, to mold us, till he sees His purpose and design reflected in us?

Father, I pray that you be in charge of our lives, that in every situation we go through, the hand of God will prevail and help us to be transformed. We consecrate our body , soul and spirit to do your will. Give us the strength and desire lord ! In Jesus name, Amen.