October 22: Metamorphosis

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1,2 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

True worship is not confined to singing and prayer in church on Sunday morning, or to listening to music on your favorite Christian radio station, instead it is the way we live our lives. Anyone can sing and clap their hands in church, or repeat “hallelujahs” — its relatively easy to do that. But what really proves our love and devotion to God is living the way He wants us to live. Like the passage above says, that requires sacrifice — giving to the point of pain and discomfort. 

Many Christians use church as a way to soothe their consciences. They attend on Sundays, sing, listen to the message, and participate in prayers, and say hi to their “brothers” and “sisters”, but when they leave they continue to live their lives in the exact same way. They do not apply the message they heard. They have a compartmentalized view of their lives — during church meetings they act one way, and when they are at home or work they revert to the way they really are. They make sacrifices, but never for God, only for themselves. But because they appear in church every week they deceive themselves into thinking that God is please with them and that they are saved. They assume, “I’m a faithful church member, and a good person, how could I not go to heaven when I die?” But true faith in God has to be consistent, it has to be a way of life. We can’t put on and take off our faith and Christianity like a jacket, it has to be as permanent as our own skin.

Today’s passage speaks about not being conformed to this age, but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. The word “renewing” comes from the Greek word for metamorphosis. Like a caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis and becomes a butterfly, we need to allow God to transform our nature on a permanent basis. But this change, at least the part we have to do, is brought about through the mind. Our hearts cannot make this change; only reason, based on the Word of God, can do that. — This is the secret to a truly happy, strong life.