The greatest need for believers today is to renew their minds to the Word of God.
Without God’s Word, we lack God’s wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence, and are easy prey for the destroyer. (See Hosea 4:6)
TRANSFORMED – A NEW MIND!
But with our minds renewed by the Word we are transformed from captives to conquerors, from whiners to winners, from outcasts to overcomers, and from victims to victors!
“Do not be conformed to this world… but be TRANSFORMED (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you.”
(Romans 12:2, Amplified Classic Edition)
“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God TRANSFORM you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good, and is pleasing to Him, and is perfect.” (Romans 12:2, Good News)
The word translated as transformed in this verse is the Greek word “metamorphoo“. It is the source of our familiar English word “metamorphosis “.
FLY HIGH, BUTTERFLY!
We all know that metamorphosis describes the process that transforms a caterpillar in its cocoon into a butterfly.
But what we may not know is that the caterpillar isn’t simply sprouting wings and stretching its skin. There’s much more taking place. The caterpillar’s entire body is being chemically broken down and rebuilt, so that It becomes a completely new kind of creature. It is changed, not just outwardly, but inwardly, right down to the molecular level.
The worm-like caterpillar crawls slowly from leaf to leaf. To attempt the journey to a neighboring branch is a huge challenge for the caterpillar.
Not so, the butterfly that will take its place! Butterflies have been observed at heights of 19,000 feet (5,800 meters).
And “Painted Lady” butterflies fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, a distance of almost 4,300 miles (7,000 km) on their annual migration from western Africa and Europe to South America.
THE MIRACLE OF METAMORPHOSIS
Now that is the miracle of metamorphosis… not an evolutionary, but a revolutionary change!
God reshapes us by “renewing our mind. He renovates our souls, rewiring and upgrading our thoughts, desires, and motivations until the life of Jesus begins to shine through us!
Interestingly, the word “metamorphoo” is found in only a couple of other places in the Bible. It is used in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 to describe Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop.
And it is used in this verse:
“And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:18, Amplified Classic)
SEEING CHRIST WITHIN US
A natural mirror reflects our outward man.
The supernatural mirror of God’s Word reflects and enables us to see our inward man… “Christ in us”… our hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)
As you can see, renewing the mind will produce an amazing transformational CHANGE in our souls (our mind, will, and emotions).
But that “C” word makes many religious folks nervous. Like the Pharisees, they wrongly cling to and defend their religious traditions rather than embrace the change, growth, and vitality produced by the Word. (See Mark 7:13)
The truth is they aren’t resisting change as much as they are resisting being changed!
So they substitute cover-up for change!
COVER-UP OR CHANGE?
Imagine this! You have your first baby! What an adorable bundle of joy! You just can’t take your eyes off that perfect little face… until your senses tell you that your little angel just delivered a load of hazardous cargo… just turned the caboose loose… just released the kraken!
Ladies, you got this! This is not even a challenge for you. Let’s give this one to the fellows, and see how they do.
OK, men, there are really only two viable options here… actually three…
● CLOTHESPIN your nose and change the diaper! Guys, you’re probably saying, ” What else you got, Bro. Joe?”
● COVER the dirty diaper with a nice, new clean one after you’ve sprinkled lots of powder on the old one to stop the stink. Problem is in a few minutes the cover-up would be stinky too and you would be right back to square one.
● COLLAPSE to the floor, faking a medical emergency. The main problem with this option is that it usually only works once, and it may result in you getting a whoopin’ (good old Texas word) from your lady when she sees you didn’t die!
But in all seriousness many Christians are trying to overcome life’s problems with the second option.
They’re not renewing their minds, so no real change occurs. Instead, they’re trying to cover up and hide the way they think, hoping that nobody notices the stink, and that the problem will just go away by itself someday. But, unfortunately it doesn’t. It just gets worse. And eventually it will come out.
Our thoughts are the seeds for our words.
Our words are the seeds for our actions.
Our actions are the seeds for our habits.
Our habits are the seeds for our character.
Our character is the seed for our destiny.
That’s why we are instructed to renew our minds, and to focus our thought life, as we diligently guard our heart, the gateway of our souls.
THE SOUL SOURCE
Proverbs 4:23 – Various Translations
“Carefully guard your thoughts, because they are the source of true life.”
(Common English Version)
“Above all, be careful what you think, because your thoughts control your life.”
(Easy-to-Read Version)
“Be very careful to keep your mind safe. The thoughts that you think make you the person that you are.” (Easy English Bible)
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (Good News Translation)
I think we’re on to something! Let’s go back briefly to our dirty diaper analogy. To do it right, we have to first remove the dirty diaper, and clean up that little bottom. Once the baby is clean and dry, we then put on a new diaper.
So it is also with renewing the mind. Before anything else, we need to realize and admit to ourselves and to the Lord that we have some “stinking thinking”, thinking that is contrary to the Word of God.
CLEAN UP THAT STINKING THINKING
Those “dirty diapers” may be fear, doubt, worry, jealousy, or morally impure thoughts. Whatever they are, we must deal with them, not just cover them up. We confess them, so we can receive forgiveness and cleansing.
“If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]”
(1 John 1:9, Amplified Bible)
Together with our confession, we make the decision to change the way we think. We then go to the Word of God and find out how God wants us to think.
Finally, we begin the process of renewing renovating, and replacing our old mindset with the new thoughts, desires, words, and behavior we receive from God’s Word.
Remember that God’s Word is spiritual seed. To enjoy a continual harvest, we need to continually plant His Word in our hearts and minds!
“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.”
(Philippians 4:8, Passion Translation)
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best meditating on… the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse…” (Philippians 4:8, The Message)
The bottom-line is this: If we want Jesus’ character and personality to be seen in us, and be expressed through us, we must continually renew our minds to the Word of God!
Blessings!
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Ours is a labor of love. We have never asked anyone to support this ministry financially. We don’t sell merchandise. We don’t host advertising. We don’t solicit donations. We have never received any income through this site.
Christ is, and will always be, our sufficiency, meeting all of our needs.
But we have humbly asked, and do ask again, that our readers would generously support our ministry Partners in the Philippines, Student Life Organization, Inc.
God has given Co-Founders Ian Rustia and Anne Ruiz a clear vision and an open door to reach many in their nation, and beyond, with the love of Christ. They powerfully and faithfully demonstrate His love through outreaches to the needy, the marginalized, and the often forgotten… children and young people with disabilities and special needs, and their families.
SLOI has only been incorporated as a non-profit ministry for slightly more than a year, yet they have already produced much fruit for the kingdom of God. Grace and I consider it a privilege to share in their work, and we earnestly ask that you would join us in supporting their ministry through your prayers and giving.
PLEASE DO THESE THREE THINGS:
- Pray for the continued success of this ministry and that God would supply every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
- Check out and subscribe to the SLOI website to learn more about their latest outreaches and ministry events. You may do this by clicking on this link:
NEWS FLASH! The SLOI Newsletter is now featured on our site! Just click on the button found on the homepage!
- Please give generously to support this ministry. You may do so through the Paypal link to their newly opened ministry account:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/studentlifeinc2025
⁶ “Remember this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously, that blessings may come to someone will also reap generously and with blessings.
⁷ Let each one give as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver whose heart is in his giving.
⁸ And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
⁹ As it is written, he [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; he gives to the poor; his deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!”
(2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-9, AMPC)
Thank you! We pray that you will experience God’s richest blessings as you give freely and cheerfully in Jesus’ name!
Joe and Grace
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