Transformation

Several things come to mind this morning as I pray and read through several passages in Romans.

My heart is good and my heart matters to God. Through Christ, God is transforming my character, my motives, my desires from the inside out. If I have to do this on my own power, I am out of luck. Only through the power of Christ can I hope to produce the fruits of the spirit. It is Christ in me that produces the love for my enemy, loving others as myself, etc.

My deep desires in my walk with God:

to be made whole and holy by his love;
a deeper intimacy with Jesus;
transformation of my character to Christ's character.

I like reading the NIV translation; however, The Message bible really highlights the key point for me, oftentimes. I want to share a few verses and my thoughts this morning.

Romans 6:6-11, The Message
...If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. ...When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. ...You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.

I want more of Christ's work, his death, resurrection and ascension, for my life. God will bring it to me.

Romans 8:29-30, The Message
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there. ...And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

What great news, God is shaping my life to the life of his Son. I want more of Christ's character in my life: his compassion, his integrity, his ability to navigate difficult situations, his fierceness.

Romans 12:1-3, The Message
...Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. ...God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. ...it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

I am learning to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. More of my heart is being turned over to God. I am embracing more of the truths of what God has done for me. I am turning my life more and more over to Christ.

Bary