I have been captured by this word and concept this week: Transformed. God has been replaying the idea, the word over and over again in my mind and spirit for the past week. This morning he led me to do a little research on the word itself from Scripture (thanks to my Libronix program this wasn’t hard to do!).

Two passages seem to cover the topic best:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Romans 12:2, NLT

What counts is whether you have been transformed into a new creation.
Galatians 6:15, NLT

Two things strike me as I meditate and consider these passages. First, it is God doing the transformation…I am obviously involved in the process, but it’s God doing the real work—He is the only one with power to affect this kind of change in my life. Frankly, I have demonstrated time and again that I am am powerless within my own strength alone to change pretty much anything (certainly anything that really matters).

Second, is that both passages talk about this transformation as wholesale change…not incremental change: “into a new person” and “into a new creation”. These are not small, piece meal changes. We are talking “Big Bang” versus “Evolution” (pardon the pun). I must confess that I am still wrestling with this even as I type. Is this transformation then only done when we are saved and become Christ followers? Don’t we continue to be shaped and molded into His image as we walk with Him? I believe that’s the case, but that doesn’t seem to be what these two passages are referring to.

What are your thoughts on this topic? I am certainly thankful for this type of transformation in my life! I couldn’t have done it without Him…wouldn’t be who I am today without Him changing me from the inside out. I’ve never been the same…