Transformation

Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-21

Ray C. Stedman, in his book, ‘Comprehensive Guide to the Entire Bible,’ recalls an incident from the World War II era.  An American airman was hit during a dogfight with Japanese planes over the island of Guadalcanal.  He was able to move away from the Japanese army in his damaged plane and bail out on a tiny island inhabited by cannibals.  The American, who was an atheist, was surprised when the islanders spoke English and called themselves Christians.  One day, the soldier found an islander reading his Bible.  The soldier went close to him and said that in America, they believe that the Bible is just a book of fables.  The islander  pointed to the big black pot hanging over the fire and said, ‘If it were not for this book, you would be inside that pot!’  That is the evidence of the transformative power of the Word of God.   

Then, the question we have to answer today is whether my heart and my life have been transformed after I accepted Jesus.

What was my thought life like before I met Jesus?  What was my lifestyle like before I met Jesus?  What were my priorities like before I accepted Jesus?  If there is no change in any of these, then I have not met the God of the Bible.  We should experience a transformation of our hearts when we receive Christ; thus, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Knowing about Jesus and accepting Jesus is entirely different.  The devil knows about Jesus and they even tremble (James 2:19).  The Bible says, “… the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).   We can know we have a transformed heart when it is tender towards God, it is willing to obey God.  It is full of compassion towards others.  We can know we have a transformed heart when we can forgive the unforgivable and even those who have harmed us.  We know we have a transformed heart when we forget the past hurts and move on in love!

My friend,  take time to reflect on the condition of your heart today.  See if there is hatred or unforgiveness and surrender it to God.  Remember the things God has forgiven you in the past, and the Bible says we would be forgiven just as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12). 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, renew our hearts by transforming our minds.  Amen.

---