Day 24 (18 Mar 2020) – Transformed by truth

5 Comments/in /by

1) Matthew 4:4 (NIV); 2) Acts 20:32 (MSG)

1) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ 2) Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

When I think of transformation in the Bible I think of stories like that of Zacchaeus (Luke 19), who after an encounter with Jesus went from greedy thief to insanely generous. I think of Paul (Acts 9) who after an encounter with Jesus went from murdering Christians to building the church. When I think of my own transformation though it can seem far less tangible. Some days I feel like I’m growing, others I feel like I’m stuck in a vortex of making the same mistakes again and again.

I believe that one of the best signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit is growth. Our God is alive and at work, so if He is in us He will be transforming us, and His transformation is to make us more and more like Jesus. Sometimes that transformation will be obvious to us and to others, like a newly planted herb. Other times though it might be less obvious, like a big tree that grows almost imperceptibly from year to year.

The only way to be sure that I’m more like Jesus in one year than I am today is to ‘abide in His word’ (John 8:31-32). Ensure that the loudest, most consistent voice in my life is the voice of God. This comes through spending time reading His word, talking with Him about it, listening to Him. It also comes by remaining in the ‘community of holy friends’, people who speak God’s truth and spur me on to become more like Jesus.

Dear God thank you that your Bible is truth I can trust. Help me to rely on it to sustain and grow me, just as I do food.

Written by Rhiannon Mellor

5 replies
  1. Peirangi Stiles says:

    Thank you Rhiannon. A great thought – ensure the loudest voice in these times is the voice of God. When there is so much ‘shouting’ in our world we need to still ourselves to be hearing the still, quiet voice of God over the clamour.

  2. Rob says:

    I love the reminder to ensure that the loudest and most consistent voice in my life is the voice of God. And I love to think of one of the key ways we hear God being through church – the ‘community of holy friends.’ So good Rhi, and amen.

  4. Sam S says:

    ‘Herb’ like growth, or ‘Tree’ like growth – both valid but unique in their rates of change. Applicable to different stages of spiritual maturity, personal change, or life stages. Good metaphor. Thanks Rhi!

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