Transformed

Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Spiritual transformation in Christ is the process of moving from self worship to Christ centered self denial, to be completely surrendered to follow Christ in all of life.  This is a supernatural work that is done over time, in partnership with the Holy Spirit and our ever increasing submission to God.  

Lasting transformation does not come from experience alone.  Experience just makes us older, evaluated experience can be used by the Holy Spirit to guide us in transformed paths of righteousness.  Lasting transformation also does not come from knowledge acquisition alone.  Knowing the right answer does not mean we live in obedience to that truth or that our behavior and attitudes will confirm these right answers.  We may know that Scripture says we are not to lean on our own understanding, but we wrestle with threads of unbelief as our behavior is informed by our feelings and our own understanding and not Christ dwelling in us and leading our thoughts actions, attitudes and desires.  Threads of unbelief in our life, perhaps unformulated skepticism distorts our thoughts, actions and choices.  To say that we trust Jesus and then live not intending to obey Jesus is an illusion of what could and should be a Christian life.

If we do not intend to be inwardly transformed, inwardly changed so that obedience to Christ is our natural response then we will not be changed.  The problem is not that spiritual change is not possible, the problem is that far too often it is not intended. Spend some time with God as you exam your intent toward transformation.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help reveal if your intent when you come to church is transformation or is your intent leaning more toward fellowship and feelings.  I have found this, fellowship and feelings are not discarded when we continue to surrender more and more of ourselves to God, but rather fellowship and feelings become more significant, more meaningful and more of a spiritual blessing in the overflow of a life being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory.  

These words from Charles Wesley help us describe the transformation that is available to each of us - let's continue to be transformed.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature's night

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light

My chains fell off, my heart was free

I rose, went forth and followed Thee - Charles Wesley 

Pastor Eric