The Transformer
By
Vernette Kureck
“Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God‘s
will is - - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans
12:2 (NIV)
Was I going to be
conformed or transformed? That was the question I was asking myself as I
prepared to be baptized back in 1977. Baptism by immersion is a picture of the
old life being buried under the water and rising up in new life with Christ. I
had selected the above verse as a life verse since it was one I could use
to gauge how I was doing in the Christian walk. I also loved the word
“transformed”… this was the era of the new Transformer toys and our sons really
enjoyed converting the many moving parts of some sort of vehicle into a
disguised warrior. They quickly found out that if they didn’t follow the
directions to move the parts, there could be breakage or malfunction.
Thankfully, I was not
left alone in my transformation. Jesus gives us the Spirit of Truth, and He
guides us in all things, as He tells us in John 16:13-15. The more I poured the
Bible into my mind and responded to His counsel, the closer I was to His good
and perfect will. The more I adhered to God’s way and followed His direction,
instead of following my way or the world’s way, the more encouraged I became
that I was pleasing Him. And as I tested God’s will in Christian service, I
realized more and more that He was strengthening me, and He continues to do so.
The renewal process began.
Paul’s charge to
Timothy is: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life
to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of
many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). The daily battle is who to listen to…the
world or the Word. To malfunction or to follow His guidance. For me, the old
life is dead, so the choice is clear. I prayerfully commit to do His will, and
ask for forgiveness when I do malfunction. (That is another whole devotional!)
As believers in God, we are being converted and transformed into spiritual
warriors. In order to be effective in the battle, we need to follow the Master
Transformer and allow Him to do His work in us.
With His love and
guidance, the battle will be won…and we will no longer be disguised. We will be
renewed. We will be transformed. Approved, and pleasing to God.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What sources and
resources are you using to renew your mind?
2. Is the world or the
Holy Spirit counseling you?
FURTHER READING:
Vernette
and her husband Ken have been married over 45 years and have 2 sons. They have
been blessed with eight grandchildren.
