Transformations November 30, 2015

Read Romans 12:1-3

Philippians 1:6      being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Psalm 138:8     The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.

1 Corinthians 1:8     He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:10     so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Philippians 2:12     Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Philippians 2:16     as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

After several months of planning to remodel our kitchen, my wife and I began all the removing, tearing out, patching, hanging, painting, and installing. In the end, we were pleased with the results.

After the hard work was over, I reflected on the passage quoted above. I realized that the weeks of labor we devoted to transforming our kitchen were nothing compared to the time and effort God puts into transforming my life. I am a work in progress, being transformed over a lifetime — day by day — by a loving God.

We seek God’s transformation when we read and meditate on the scriptures — taking the time to discern what thoughts, attitudes, and actions do not bring glory to God and then praying about them. When I am impatient with others, remembering God’s kindness brings me a peace that helps me respond with love instead of anger. When I pray for those who frustrate me, God’s Spirit replaces my contempt with compassion. The job of transforming each of us is not over, but I am assured that God will complete the work begun in us — replacing our old ways with “what is good and acceptable and perfect.”