NWC Devotion-Spiritual Transformation

I'm sorry for the late posting guys. My computer refuse to boot up for the past 2 days. Here's your devotion for the week:

Spiritual Transformation

Recently, there' been a lot of hype with action heroes disguised in the form of vehicles, but reveal their true nature to fight Megatron and protect Earth. They are...TRANSFORMERS - Robots in Disguise!

Like this robotic heroes, we have the capability of being transformed. Paul writes in
Romans 12:1-2, Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

That word transformation comes from the Greek “morphoo” which means, “the inward and real formation of the essential nature of a person.” It was the term used to describe the development of an embryo in a mother's body. Paul used this word in his book to the Galatians:

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” (Gal. 4:19)

Spiritual growth can occur through difficult circumstances and through the help of others, but I am also convinced that by the faithful reading of God's word we can be changed-- “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NASB) There is no doubt that God's words can renew our mind.
You become what you think.
Paul writes,

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set forth on what they nature desires; but those who live in according with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8)

But then again, there is something we need to be aware of, that God's knowledge alone is useless, unless it changes our hearts.

We can be filled with God's knowledge, but unless it changes our heart, we will not be transformed.

In Col. 1:9-14, Paul describes knowledge appropriated through wisdom and understanding, “… praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

Knowledge alone is not enough. Correct doctrine alone is not sufficient to change us. The Pharisees were known for their orthodox beliefs. Orthodox means “right thinking.” They were learned, bright men who knew Scripture. By earthly standards, these religious leaders were good men, reputable in the community. They were ministers who had devoted themselves to the study of the Law and they had the law down to a science! And yet Christ had fault with them,

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:14-15)

And the stinging words from Jesus,

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people of righteousness but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Mt. 23:27-28)

The Pharisees had knowledge, but they lacked wisdom. Wisdom is applied knowledge. God wants you to have wisdom. (James 1:5). He desires for you to know Him and His purpose for your life. He wants you to see life from His point of view. As we study God’s Word we are confronted with the truth that we have failed to live up to God's purpose for our lives. We ask the questions, “How does this apply to my life? Am I living up to the spiritual truth in this passage of Scripture? Where have I sinned?”


So the question for all of you today is this:
Are you being transformed? Did you allow God to change your heart?

Paul