Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)
When people look at me, do they see me being transformed? Does anything about who I’m becoming as I give my life over to God give them the desire to do the same?
Do they see that even though I still have many of the same day-to-day struggles, the impact they have on me is different? That even in the midst of the trials that come, there is joy and peace that comes from trusting God completely?
Transformation is a process and the journey is different for each of us. But the starting point is the same. — Jesus.
We have to recognize that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23)
And for a holy God, the only penalty for unholy sin is death. But God planned all along to take care of that penalty and give us the gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
The penalty was death – but not ours. It was Jesus’. (Romans 5:8)
Once we get that, we need to confess that Jesus is Lord. And believe that God raised him from the dead. And that is the moment we are saved. (Romans 10:7)
Now let the transformation through Christ begin!
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 3:18 NLT)