Adapting or Transforming

Give up the struggle and the fight; relax in the omnipotence of the Lord Jesus; look up into His lovely face and as you behold Him, He will transform you into His likeness. You do the beholding--He does the transforming. There is no short-cut to holiness.  Alan Redpath

What [others] most need is to see in you a reflection of what God is like and of the transforming power of the Gospel. Your life can create hunger and thirst for God in others' lives and can be a powerful instrument in the hand of the Holy Spirit to draw their hearts to Christ.  Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I started thinking about chameleons this morning.  I find it interesting how chameleons are able to change colors depending on external factors.  If they are being hunted by predators, they will often change color to blend in with their surroundings.  The reason their eyes look so weird is their upper and lower eyelids are joined with only a pinhole large enough for the pupil to see through.  The other odd thing about them is their eyes are able to move independently from each other which means they can see you coming and going.

We often use the same type of adapting technique.  We change color so to speak by trying to fit in with those around us.  We will adapt ourselves to fit in with the crowd. We want other people to like us so we adapt.  The other thing is we take on the eyes of the chameleon.  Our eyes are so busy looking for the next thing that we lose sight of the Father.

Jesus didn’t fit in.  He was different.  He hung out with beggars, prostitutes, lepers, demon possessed individuals, tax collectors and any number of people considered by society to be the lowest on earth.  He didn’t try to be like everyone else.  His being different is the very thing that drew people to Him. 

God doesn’t want us to adapt to this world.  He wants us to be transformed into His likeness.        

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, my drive into work this morning was not as peaceful as it normally is.  I long for your presence in my life and this just reminded me that You are always there and there are no special buttons to push or complicated pictures to figure out.  Thank You for making it possible for me to spend quiet time with You no matter where I am.       

Scripture: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2