transformation Archives – Sonshine's Journal

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022

When God Transforms

Daniel 4 When Paul wrote to the Romans, he reminded them that when we become believers, we have a responsibility to be living sacrifices and that our minds are to be transformed from the inside out. (see Rom 12:1-2) This week we experienced the death and funeral of one of the longest reigning queens, and her eulogy reflected her life as a believer. Let no one say they did not know her life story. She may have worn a crown here on earth, but she laid that crown at the feet of Jesus when she entered eternity. How about us?

Daniel recorded the words of Nebuchadnezzar, who also, like Queen Elizabeth, had a spiritual transformation and voiced these words: “How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, and his authority continues from one generation to the next.” [Dan 4:3] God’s transformation from unbeliever to believer is life-changing, and we give glory to He who sits on the throne. The king wanted the world to know, so he recorded those words to show that he understood the transitory kingdom God had placed in his hands in contrast to the eternal kingdom of God.

If someone opened your diary, would they see your words of praise for God?

October 15, 2020

“Transformed by Jesus”

Matthew 13:53-58 One of the wonders of God’s creation is the butterfly who goes through a transformation from a caterpillar to a winged creature with beautiful colors. As a believer you have been transformed when you moved from darkness to light. Just like the marvel of the butterfly’s transformation, Jesus transforms us and we are no longer as Nathanael asked: what good can come out of Nazareth.

Jesus was the person who moved away and has returned; he came “home” to Nazareth and began to teach the people in their synagogue. The people’s reaction was much like Nathanael’s. Those in our hometown recall our life story just as they knew Jesus’ story, but it was when Jesus began to teach; they reacted with astonishment. Their wagging tongues began to whisper, where did he get all of this wisdom and miraculous powers?

Just like the Nazarenes, they had preconceived ideas and others will have them about you. They will be watching you, and it will be your fruit–your spiritual beauty–that they will examine. Will you reflect the life change wrought by Jesus? Jesus said by your fruits—by your spiritual transformation—that you will be known.

September 1, 2015

To Whom or to What Do I Conform?

In today’s world we see the youth conforming to their culture in dress, word and actions. Mid-life adults are conforming to the ways of their culture which includes their employment and their social structure. In light of all of this we come to Romans 12 and Paul earnestly implores us to not be a conformer. What is he saying to all of us?

Paul appeals to the believer to take a step outside their comfort zone and walk the Via Delorosa with Christ for as he offered himself willingly so should we. This is not a command but an appeal: present ourselves as a gift offering; not as a dead sacrifice with the blood poured out but rather as alive so that we might be of service in His kingdom here until He calls us home. This is how we offer ourselves back to Him in thankfulness and gratitude. In addition to we are to be holy, set apart, devoted and consecrated for we are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. And this Beloved is pleasing to God. The effect of the burnt offering was to atone but Paul is earnestly imploring us to be a living sacrifice consumed not by fire but by the love of God, totally transformed from what we were to what He would have us to become.

So practically how do we accomplish this—this sacrifice, non-conformity to our culture and the ways of the world and how are we transformed so that we are only conforming to God’s ways? It all begins here Beloved: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” [Mt 5]We must make a choice and that choice determines if we follow the world or we follow Christ. What will it be?

May 9, 2015

Jesus-Believer’s Transformation

In Thessalonica Paul preached the truth of the gospel from the scriptures “explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” [Acts 17] But his stay was short lived and as Paul left hurriedly he had visions that his work was of no value as it seemed that the word of the Lord had fallen upon deaf ears. How often do we proclaim and think that what we have shared has done the same? It is then that we must remember it is NOT about you or me, but it is the power of the gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit that changes lives. It must have been almost more than Paul could take when he heard that the Thessalonians not only heard but received and now were living as Jesus-Believers. They were transformed!

Three things stood out in the lives of the Thessalonians that we can take to heart. First their transformation was evident to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia so much so that the message of the power of the gospel was echoing everywhere. Does our transformation by Jesus do the same? It was evident in three ways: ‘work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope.’ They put faith; words and their belief into action. The world is looking for the reality of transformed lives. Are we living out the gospel so much so that even our “trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold –“?

How does your life and my life look to the outside world?

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