Transformation

Week 2: Transformed in Character

Many of us are familiar with the toys called “Transformers”, and if not the toys, then possibly the movie franchise. Each Transformer starts out looking like one thing, then various parts move so the whole thing becomes something totally different. Some parts stay the same; others change to take on the appearance of something with a different purpose—a powerful robot. But it’s not rightly named. The toy gets transformed by me—not itself. It should be called “transformable.” This toy makes a good visual of how, in real life, I am not a transformer either, but one who is transformable in the hands of the living Christ and His transforming power. 

In order to be truly transformed, we have to change that which is fundamental to us – our character. And, while the toy won’t resist me because it has no will of its own, we can resist our transformer out of fear of the unfamiliar, because of stubbornness – not being convinced that we need transforming, or out of ignorance – not knowing it’s available to us. So, how do we cooperate with our transformer? By faith, like everything else in our Christian life, we can dare to be different in character, knowing it’s for our own good.

Intro credit: bible.org

Pilot text

Rom 12:1-2 [NET] Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. 2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

In this pilot scripture, God is asking us to allow Him transform us from within, so that we can be different from the world around us. The work of transformation requires that we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to work out God’s perfect will in us. How should you cooperate with God in order to be transformed?

• Evaluate where you are conforming to the world. Where are you being pulled by the world’s influence and ideas? What advantages or disadvantages have shaped your thinking and your character? What is God showing you about yourself as you read His Word?
• Submit to the discomfort of transforming change. Without submission there can be no transformation. Once we have identified those areas in which we are conforming to the world, we need to ‘intentionally’ bring and leave these at the altar. Make it a point of prayer and bible study so that, as you submit your heart to God in the place of prayer, you learn what you should be doing through bible study. Look for bible studies and topics that deal with these areas in which you need transformation and dedicate yourself to be discipled to transformation.
• Continue to believe God for a change. In order for transformation to happen, we must have faith that God is able to change our worst into His best, while we continue to journey to that place of actually seeing it happen. The bible knowledge commentary on this passage puts it this way: “As a Christian is transformed in (her) mind and is made more like Christ, (s)he comes to approve and desire God’s will, not (her) own will for her life. Then (s)he discovers that God’s will is what is good for her, and that it pleases God, and is complete in every way. It is all (s)he needs.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, page 488).

For more information on this topic read bible.org.

Questions for Discussion (use scriptures to support your position):

1. When does the attempt to avoid worldliness become legalism or un-Christlike?
2. Some Old Testament commands are no longer valid in the New Testament era. How do we know which ones?