Catechism: The World's LoveSample

Almost every elementary school student learns about caterpillars and butterflies: how a creepy-crawly creature cocoons itself and emerges as a beautiful, fluttering butterfly. 

Even though it spent the first half of its life crawling from leaf to leaf, once it transforms, the butterfly never goes back to crawling again. Why would it, when it’s been transformed to fly?

In the same way, God transformed us into new creatures and calls us to live differently now that we belong to him. God’s love replaces our old desires and ways of doing things and gives us a new, more satisfying way to live. 

Read Romans 12

Reflection Questions:

1. God is calling us to different behaviors, but don’t miss this point: first, he will change how we think! Why is it essential to start with what’s inside of us, not just what we do on the outside?
2. Of all the new behaviors the passage describes, which one is most challenging to you? Take some time to confess your sin in this area and ask God to continue to transform you.
3. Living God’s way means being totally different from the culture around us. Does the idea of standing out and being different excite you or scare you? Why or why not? Take all of those feelings to the Lord and ask him to strengthen you to live for him.