WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A CONTINUOUS TRANSFORMATION?

“But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Change is something we all need. It is an ongoing part of life. With its constant state of flux, life demands adjustments for our schedules and plans. Essentially, change is the new norm. But people’s spiritual lives call for more than slight changes to the calendar. Real change is a process, not a destination. So we as followers of Jesus are in need of transformation, but not a one time act or occurrence. Genuine transformation is God–achieved and God–sustained, and is a continuous, in process transformation.

Our culture tends to look at transformation as a one time thing. We see a problem, and develop some action steps to fix the problem, and continue working on it until the problem is fixed. Then we consider it fixed. For Christians it is an ongoing process. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” God wants to transform us every moment of every day.

In a world that thinks we are all locked into an endless chain of cause and effect, 2 Corinthians 3:18 gives us incredible good news. We are free to change in ways the world cannot begin to imagine. Too often we just accept that we are who we are as if the God we serve didn’t have the power to continually transform us. We live as if the Holy Spirit is a God who only shows up every now and then to shake things up then retreats back into the heavens. The Holy Spirit is constantly ready to lead us, and transform our lives.

So what does continual transformation look like? How do we live in sync with the Spirit who can constantly change us from the inside out? Romans 12:1 says, “…I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Continual transformation will come when we decide to stop living for ourselves.

You see, when we live for ourselves we naturally take control of our own lives and therefore limit God and His desire to transform us. But, when we seek to be a “living and holy sacrifice” to God at all times our hearts are open to what the Spirit is doing and saying every day. If you want to be continually transformed by the powerful, life-changing love of God, you have to choose every day to center your life around the will and desires of God.

Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Our transformation in Christ is a work in progress. it comes gradually. “We are changed” is a continuous operation. “We are changed into his glorious image” is a journey of transitions and degrees and a continuous process.

Discussion Questions:

Pray and ask God to continually transform you.
What needs to change in you for that transformation?