I wish I had met the apostle Peter before he met Jesus and then been reunited with him once again before his death. I would have loved to see the difference that Christ made in his life. Jesus called him and after Jesus ascended into heaven and Peter continued in ministry, he never quit changing and looking more and more like Christ.
When we talk about our relationship with Jesus as a journey, we can quickly understand that we are not trying to reach perfection here on Earth. That will come in the end. We are trying for something different here. It would be a mistake to see our relationship with Jesus as one-sided where we ask and take and Jesus does all the giving. That's where we must choose to have a better perspective. And one perspective for our journey is to see that our travel on the path with Christ is one of transformation.
In church sometimes we become really good at information. We like to TELL others how they should act, think, and live. We want to form them into an image that mostly looks, just like we look. Jesus came into people's lives (and still does) and meets them where they are and wants to transform them into the holy image of God. This transformation will never end until the day when Christ returns and we all make the eternal and final transformation bearing the perfect image the Father intended all along. And when transformation is the goal we tend not to TELL people how to be, but rather enter into relationship with people and SHARE with them the great experience of becoming more like Christ every day.
True disciples recognize the need to be not just informed, but transformed into the image of Jesus. Jesus calls his disciples and they follow. As they follow, they become someone different inside and their lives change. They begin to care more about what God wants and how he will rule in the hearts of people, rather than what the chief priests and Pharisees want and how God will rule politically. They begin to care about people over principles. They begin to have the heart of God. And all but John, the beloved one, will be martyred because of this transformation and heart of God. In the end they are transformed to a point where death is better than life and eternity is desired over this temporary dwelling. Their perspective changes from how they see the kingdom to what God wants them to do in His kingdom.
If we think of ourselves as disciples (and we should) then we must remember that we are in a process of transformation where God is changing us from the inside out to have his heart and care more each day for His kingdom work. This transformation is possible because of Christ's sacrifice and the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
How are you being transformed today?
How different do you look today from 1 year, 5 years, 10 years ago?
When we talk about our relationship with Jesus as a journey, we can quickly understand that we are not trying to reach perfection here on Earth. That will come in the end. We are trying for something different here. It would be a mistake to see our relationship with Jesus as one-sided where we ask and take and Jesus does all the giving. That's where we must choose to have a better perspective. And one perspective for our journey is to see that our travel on the path with Christ is one of transformation.
In church sometimes we become really good at information. We like to TELL others how they should act, think, and live. We want to form them into an image that mostly looks, just like we look. Jesus came into people's lives (and still does) and meets them where they are and wants to transform them into the holy image of God. This transformation will never end until the day when Christ returns and we all make the eternal and final transformation bearing the perfect image the Father intended all along. And when transformation is the goal we tend not to TELL people how to be, but rather enter into relationship with people and SHARE with them the great experience of becoming more like Christ every day.
True disciples recognize the need to be not just informed, but transformed into the image of Jesus. Jesus calls his disciples and they follow. As they follow, they become someone different inside and their lives change. They begin to care more about what God wants and how he will rule in the hearts of people, rather than what the chief priests and Pharisees want and how God will rule politically. They begin to care about people over principles. They begin to have the heart of God. And all but John, the beloved one, will be martyred because of this transformation and heart of God. In the end they are transformed to a point where death is better than life and eternity is desired over this temporary dwelling. Their perspective changes from how they see the kingdom to what God wants them to do in His kingdom.
If we think of ourselves as disciples (and we should) then we must remember that we are in a process of transformation where God is changing us from the inside out to have his heart and care more each day for His kingdom work. This transformation is possible because of Christ's sacrifice and the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
How are you being transformed today?
How different do you look today from 1 year, 5 years, 10 years ago?
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