Be Ye Transformed. . . . . . . . .

Romans 12: 1-2

“I beseech ye 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.”

What, exactly, does it mean to be transformed.

Second Corinthians 3:18 says “But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being changed (transformed) into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.”

Let us pray that the Spirit of Truth, the precious Holy Spirit, lead and guide us into all truth. We pray that He will open our hearts to hear what He is saying to the Church, the bride of Christ, in this hour in which we live.

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that in reading Romans 12: 1-2 as a very young girl, I knew in my spirit that it was very important to grasp what the Word was saying to me. Through the years I have gained insight into its meaning, however, I sense that the Lord is revealing more now, with a sense of urgency.  The Body of Christ must comprehend the essence of what this Word means. 

The definition of transformation is an act, process, or instance of transforming or being transformed; make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character.  Our text says we are not to be conformed to this world but are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let’s examine ourselves.  Think of the time we responded to the wooing of the Holy Spirit and gave our hearts to the Lord.  How many days, months, years has it been.  Can we honestly say we have been, and are being, transformed into His likeness? His image? Are we moving from glory to glory in our walk?  How can we tell?

The Word tells us in part that we are to be anxious for nothing, be angry and sin not, love our neighbors as ourselves, trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding, fear not, have faith in God, guard our heart with all diligence, and walk circumspectly before Him.

Ephesians 5: 14-17

“Wherefore, he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light, See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil, Wherefore, be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Our text says we are to be transformed so that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.”

Ephesians 4: 13-14

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ;’

I said earlier that we need to examine ourselves in respect to being transformed.  Are we easily offended?  Do we find ourselves wearing our feelings on our shoulders? Are we able to accept criticism with the right attitude? Are we disciplined about spending time with the Lord and being still before Him,  allowing us to hear His voice? Do we make reading and studying and absorbing the scriptures one of  our highest priorities?  Do we speak as a child demanding our own way, not preferring the brethren.  Do we find ourselves walking in the flesh instead of the Spirit. (Galations 5:16)  Are we still requiring the milk of the Word when we should be on the meat.  A minister once remarked that he is happy and willing to feed Christians the milk of the Word but he sure doesn’t like have to take their false teeth out to get the bottle in their mouth.

There is a sound of a trumpet in the land.  God is calling us to grow up in Him, to finally and completely be transformed into His likeness. The world is in a mess. People desperately need the Lord.  Not a program, not an activity, but the manifest presence of the living God.  We have what they need.  As we enter in and truly learn how to “practice the presence of God” (The Practice of the Presence of God is a collection of teachings by Brother Lawrence, a 17th century friar), we will be transformed into His likeness and begin to walk in the authority He has given us.   We must be about the Father’s business in all that we do.  As we spend time with Him, we will reflect His heart, His agenda, His compassion.  We will get to the place where being in His presence is the true joy of our lives.  That is where the strength is, that is where our will is molded into His will.  Worship will become so natural to us.  To know Him is to worship Him.  Bask in His presence.  Be transformed into His image. We will go forth in the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit and people will notice and be drawn to God, the Fountain of Living Water.  Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!

We must not settle for anything less.  As we examine our hearts, let us find a red hot passion for the lost.  Let us be that one who will tenderly feed the lambs until they are able to feed themselves and others. Let us find we are becoming more and more like Christ in everything we say and do.  May we go from glory to glory, doing the work of the ministry, pouring the water of life into every vessel God puts in our path, breaking the chains of bondage off of people and “loosing them and letting them go” as the Lord Himself instructed us to do.   The hour is fast approaching when everything we have done is all that we can ever do.  Let us live so that we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant;…….enter thou into the joy of thy lord”.  Matthew 25:23

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