How Does Personal Transformation Take Place? (Part 4)
As we jettison our childish nature of selfishness in exchange for the character of Jesus, we find the days may pass slowly unless we
find the strength to persevere and enjoy the greater evidences of being like Jesus! In the process of becoming more Christ-like,
having our eyes on the prize is what provides us with the motivation to reach out and become like Christ. How we become like Jesus
is described by Paul when he says,
“… but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ …” Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION TARGETS A GLORIOUS GOAL
Personal transformation is all about where we are headed. While many make up rules and create some form of unnatural
architecture for spiritual growth, the Bible informs us that we become like what we pursue. If I am to continue the process of
becoming like Christ …
• I am to speak the truth in love. In our world of “political correctness” it seems we are stumbling over ourselves not to offend
people by what we say. While we would all agree “being offensive” is not our intention in becoming more godly, we discover in this
passage that “being pleasant” is not always godly as well. Paul is telling us clearly that the motivation of our heart in every
communications with other people is a deep-seated and sacrificial willingness to give our lives (and our relationship) in order to
demonstrate our love to them. That means we tell people exactly what God instructs us to in His Word, but we do so from a
compassion that desires the best for those we speak to. This can often be a challenge. It requires that we seek the correct words and
the proper tone each time we must share something that is, at first, difficult to swallow. With each interaction successfully completed
and those we have spoken to becoming more like Jesus, we realize God’s workings deep within us. Repeating this scenario allows
us to see our next responsibility become a reality …
• I am to grow up in all things. Wrestling with the words from our culture, our conscience and our Christ is the crux of the growth
process. Choosing to place God’s revealed will at the center of our souls and measure everything else we say and hear by God’s
revealed words demonstrates we are growing into spiritual adulthood. We challenge our selfishness and our culture’s sinfulness
when we return God to His rightful place in our souls – as Lord and Master, King and Ruler of our lives. When we willfully choose to
restore God’s will to our lifestyle, He guides and leads us to communicate the fullness of His wisdom with every person we meet.
While we may not be popular with everyone, our growing maturity provides the encouragement to take the next step …
• I am to grow up in Christ. Enjoying the life of Christ means following the path of life with Jesus as our guide. It is a journey of joy
and pleasure (Psalm 16.11) because our Companion walks with us. With each new turn of the road, each new challenge to “tell the
truth with compassion,” Jesus Himself helps us and trains us to show respect for those we communicate with and keep the integrity
and reverence of God’s Word. This balancing act is the maturing process – we grow into the image of Jesus as we hold people
accountable to the heart and will of the God of the Universe with His compassion and His tenderness.
Growth and transformation into the image of Christ is the process of growing up, out of the childish nature of self. Choosing to take
on the nature of the person we are traveling through life with – Christ – is the root from which transformation grows. Growth is the
synonym for transformation. Speaking the truth in love to those who disagree or who are on the road to disaster is the stuff of growing
up in Christ!
In our next installment, we will discover how personal transformation culminates in a joyous conclusion.
Would you help us strengthen and encourage others in their spiritual leadership? Please forward this email to a friend and
encourage them to subscribe!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
As we jettison our childish nature of selfishness in exchange for the character of Jesus, we find the days may pass slowly unless we
find the strength to persevere and enjoy the greater evidences of being like Jesus! In the process of becoming more Christ-like,
having our eyes on the prize is what provides us with the motivation to reach out and become like Christ. How we become like Jesus
is described by Paul when he says,
“… but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ …” Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION TARGETS A GLORIOUS GOAL
Personal transformation is all about where we are headed. While many make up rules and create some form of unnatural
architecture for spiritual growth, the Bible informs us that we become like what we pursue. If I am to continue the process of
becoming like Christ …
• I am to speak the truth in love. In our world of “political correctness” it seems we are stumbling over ourselves not to offend
people by what we say. While we would all agree “being offensive” is not our intention in becoming more godly, we discover in this
passage that “being pleasant” is not always godly as well. Paul is telling us clearly that the motivation of our heart in every
communications with other people is a deep-seated and sacrificial willingness to give our lives (and our relationship) in order to
demonstrate our love to them. That means we tell people exactly what God instructs us to in His Word, but we do so from a
compassion that desires the best for those we speak to. This can often be a challenge. It requires that we seek the correct words and
the proper tone each time we must share something that is, at first, difficult to swallow. With each interaction successfully completed
and those we have spoken to becoming more like Jesus, we realize God’s workings deep within us. Repeating this scenario allows
us to see our next responsibility become a reality …
• I am to grow up in all things. Wrestling with the words from our culture, our conscience and our Christ is the crux of the growth
process. Choosing to place God’s revealed will at the center of our souls and measure everything else we say and hear by God’s
revealed words demonstrates we are growing into spiritual adulthood. We challenge our selfishness and our culture’s sinfulness
when we return God to His rightful place in our souls – as Lord and Master, King and Ruler of our lives. When we willfully choose to
restore God’s will to our lifestyle, He guides and leads us to communicate the fullness of His wisdom with every person we meet.
While we may not be popular with everyone, our growing maturity provides the encouragement to take the next step …
• I am to grow up in Christ. Enjoying the life of Christ means following the path of life with Jesus as our guide. It is a journey of joy
and pleasure (Psalm 16.11) because our Companion walks with us. With each new turn of the road, each new challenge to “tell the
truth with compassion,” Jesus Himself helps us and trains us to show respect for those we communicate with and keep the integrity
and reverence of God’s Word. This balancing act is the maturing process – we grow into the image of Jesus as we hold people
accountable to the heart and will of the God of the Universe with His compassion and His tenderness.
Growth and transformation into the image of Christ is the process of growing up, out of the childish nature of self. Choosing to take
on the nature of the person we are traveling through life with – Christ – is the root from which transformation grows. Growth is the
synonym for transformation. Speaking the truth in love to those who disagree or who are on the road to disaster is the stuff of growing
up in Christ!
In our next installment, we will discover how personal transformation culminates in a joyous conclusion.
Would you help us strengthen and encourage others in their spiritual leadership? Please forward this email to a friend and
encourage them to subscribe!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
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