Becoming New: 5 Days of Transformation Through God’s WordSample

How God Changes Us

Your first encounter with the word metamorphosis probably took place in elementary school when you learned about caterpillars. Metamorphosis happens when caterpillars wrap themselves in silk cocoons of their own weaving, wait for the right time, and come out as butterflies.

This complicated word is used four times in the New Testament: twice it describes our Lord’s transfiguration (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2), and twice it refers to the changes Christians experience as they mature in their spiritual life (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18). Metamorphosis describes a permanent change on the outside that comes from the inside.

There is also a Greek word that describes a temporary change that doesn’t come from the inside. Our English equivalent would be “masquerade.” Satan’s specialty is encouraging people to imitate the Christian life and not experience the real thing. Satan himself even masquerades as an angel of light.

But true Christians can experience change on the outside because they have the Holy Spirit within, who can bring out this miracle and make them more like Jesus. Among other things, the Bible is a record of the constant conflict in this world between illusion and reality, imitation on the outside, and transformation from the inside. Satan is not a creator; he is a counterfeiter, offering people cheap imitations of the precious realities we have in Christ.

Transformation is based on God’s truth; imitation is based on Satan’s lies. Believing Satan’s lies will make us prisoners of illusion, but living by God’s truth will make us free and keep us free. Romans 12:2 commands us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed (metamorphosis) from within by the renewing of our minds so that we will become more like Jesus Christ.

It is this wonderful day-by-day, step-by-step transformation experience that is the theme of this five-day reading plan and the book from which it is taken. Our lives can be divine miracles or cheap imitations. The word translated “hypocrite” in the New Testament means “playactor, one who masquerades.” We can choose to surrender to Jesus and enjoy reality or follow Satan and live in illusion.

Part of the process of change is dealing with our self-deception. As we walk with the Lord through His Word, we must allow the truth to do its work in our hearts. God is in the business of taking counterfeits and converting them into the real thing. He will do this in you too, if you offer yourself to God.

Reflect: What areas of your life do you want God to transform?

Pray: Talk to God in prayer about one of those areas and ask the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out.