Good Companions

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Bob Mathews

Those with whom we share close and intimate relationships, our companions in this life, are important to each of us. We share with them the heights of our joy and the depths of our sorrow. With confidence we entrust them with intimate details of our on-going struggles of life. They are permitted to see us when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable moments. We depend upon them to provide comfort and consolation when we fail ourselves or when others fail us. They see us when we are hurt and when we are sorely disappointed in self as we hurt others. Simply put, they see us in the full bloom of imperfect humanity. Accordingly, those whom we choose as companions, ones being given the innermost seat close to our minds and hearts, should surely be selected carefully. The choices we make concerning our companions may invite either rich blessings or abundant trials.

The apostle Paul spoke well when he said, “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33, ASV). He was wisely guided when he implored us not to be deceived about these matters. Yes, there are some close associations that we establish in this life which are truly reprehensible as measured morally. We need to more wisely determine which associations are “evil” and which are good. Whether we be young or old, the principle stated by Paul in 1 Cor. 15:33 applies to us individually and is an important factor in determining our way in life. I trust that your life’s journey will be sweetened by companions who are worthy of the position they hold in your life. May life’s blessings be multiplied as you are accompanied by good companions who meet the standards of the Lord.

A touching example of good companionship between friends is the intimate friendship between David, who eventually served as king of Israel, and Jonathan, the son of King Saul. This valued relationship was established as Jonathan witnessed his father’s jealousy of David which led King Saul to seek the life of the young David. He subsequently fled as Jonathan courageously warned him of the impending danger to his life.

A review of this friendship reveals a remarkable set of characteristics. The record affirms that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. Spiritually, they were chained together as they both trusted in God and one another. The great measure of Jonathan’s love for David is evident as he loved David as his own soul, allowing his home to become the home of David, and establishing a covenant between them.

Jonathan extended to David great honor, though Jonathan was the son of the reigning monarch. Jonathan gave to David his personal clothing, thus symbolically surrendering the throne to David. Though he was commanded to kill David, Jonathan never obeyed his father in this matter. He refused to follow such an evil course because of his own personal upstanding character and because of the great delight that he experienced in his relationship with the young David. Rather than obey his wicked father, Jonathan betrayed his father’s plot to kill him. The companionship that existed between David and Jonathan is our example today. May we so choose our friends and companions that we will be inclined to draw ever close to them in a productive, meaningful, and fulfilling relationship which evidences the righteousness of the Father in heaven.

A further review of the friendship between Jonathan and David is noteworthy. Not only did Jonathan betray his father’s plot to kill David, he also encouraged David to hide from his father. Both in spirit and in action Jonathan was faithful to the good companionship existing between him and David, even to the extent that he would undermine King Saul’s wicked plans. This is further evidenced as Jonathan promised to inform David of his private discussions with King Saul about him.

Jonathan not only worked directly with David on his behalf but he also sought to influence his father concerning David. Jonathan courageously spoke well of David to the king, presenting David as innocent and as one who treated King Saul very well. This stands in contrast to Jonathan’s description of his father’s actions as sinful and as one who acted without just cause toward David. Jonathan’s influence was effective in assisting David and King Saul to restore their relationship. Though the good relationship between David and the king would not endure, Jonathan continued to hold David’s trust, as David fled to Jonathan to learn why Saul sought his life. Jonathan’s love for his friend endured. He viewed David graciously, pledging to do anything that David wanted, even to reveal his father’s true intent toward David under penalty of death. He promised to send David away from his father and desired the Lord to be with him. As they parted from one another, they kissed and wept. Their friendship and companionship, marked with trust, loyalty, sacrifice, and commitment, endured through the challenges of life. In response to the death of Jonathan, David said, “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” If only all our companionships were so tender and precious.

What about “scribal errors”?

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Bob Mathews

I don’t know what sort of opposition you face from skeptics on a daily basis; probably not much. Such opposition is certainly real though. You’ll hear about the numerous “contradictions” in the Bible. Among these alleged discrepancies are what believers tend to chalk up as “scribal errors” because they can’t seem to explain them any other way. The trouble is, if you believe the Bible can stand up to scrutiny (as I believe), and if you believe the Bible does not contradict itself (as I believe), then there are certain passages that just can’t be explained other than as “scribal errors”. They simply must be the result of an honest error committed by an overworked, honest, dedicated scribe who gave his life to copying scripture. Right?

The inerrancy of the Bible is something that not only should we accept on faith, but we can accept on faith that has adequate evidence in early manuscripts.

For example, compare 1 Kings 4:26 and 2 Chronicles 9:25, & 2 Samuel 21:19 and 1 Chronicles 20:5.

Surely you must have wondered about these “scribal errors”. Isn’t that just a cop-out by mind-numbed believers who can’t explain a true contradiction any other way?

In a word — no.

Scribal errors were a real eventuality of the early centuries of scripture. So why is this not a simple, easy way out for dedicated believers desperately wanting a logical explanation for what is truly a real contradiction?

The reality of scribal errors

First, let me state that I will not give a complete explanation here of scribal errors. That’s not a cop out; that’s a choice I made in order to keep blog posts to a reasonable size. I will though, direct you to an excellent reference by Eric Lyons of Apologetics Press. Eric has a 2-volume compendium of alleged Bible discrepancies titled “Anvil Rings: Answers to Alleged Bible Discrepancies“. This 2-volume set is a great addition to the library of those who believe the Bible to be 100% inspired and 100% without error, yet who may have difficulty resolving the meaning of certain passages that appear to be contradictory. (Scribal, or “copyists”, errors are among the topics Eric deals with in Volume 1.)

In Eric’s books, as well as in his articles, he does a masterful job of not only acknowledging the difficulty of certain passages, but also of explaining how things such as scribal errors occurred, given all the safeguards that were in place to prevent such errors.

A double standard?

Consider this (from Lyons, Vol 1, pg. 142):

Over 5,300 New Testament manuscripts are extant today, with the most complete dated at roughly A.D. 350, the earliest dating roughly A.D. 120, and writers quoting New Testament documents as early as A.D. 90.

There are only 643 copies of Homer’s Iliad manuscripts, undeniably the most famous book of ancient Greece.

No one doubts the authenticity of Julius Caesars Gallic Wars, but we have only 10 copies of it, the latest copy dating 1,000 years after the original was written.

So why does the world accept secular documents with very little assurance of no scribal error, but it makes excuses why the multiplicity of earlier documents is unreliable? Certainly the sheer number of manuscripts alone doesn’t prove anything, does it? No, but the fact that the 5,300 New Testament manuscripts are in remarkable (though not 100%) agreement with each other is certainly a point in the Bible’s favor.

Faith

Let’s be honest — if everything we believe could be proven by the scientific method, it wouldn’t be called “faith”. The inerrancy of the Bible though, is something that not only should we accept on faith, but we can accept on faith that has adequate evidence in early manuscripts.

Remember, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

What do you think?

Are “scribal errors” things that believers invent in order to explain away a flimsy substance-weak faith? Or are they a reality of an early, pre-press culture that did the best it humanly could?

You can’t say “Gospel” without “Go”

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Bob Mathews

The Bible clearly affirms that Christians in general have the corporate and personal obligation to carry the Gospel to those around us. This mutual obligation is ours for a handful of reasons. First, because we must shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15). Second, because saints must be equipped for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). Third, because we must shine as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15). Fourth, because we must always be abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58), knowing the Christ came to save the lost (Luke 19:10).

The condition of the world demands timely attention to this task, knowing that the god of this world, Satan (2 Cor. 4:4), has deceived the world (Rev. 12:19). Thus, the world is in spiritual darkness (Eph. 6:12), in wickedness (1 John 5:19), evil (Gal. 1:4), condemned (1 Cor. 11:32), and without God (Eph. 2:12). This dire portrait of the world cannot be properly addressed by the wisdom of the world (1 Cor. 1:21) but must be addressed through the Gospel of Christ. Christ is the one who came into this world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), and is the Savior of the world (1 Jn. 4:14).

Yes, the world needs to be convicted of sin (Rom. 3:19) and to be reconciled unto the Father (2 Cor. 5:19).

This needed reconciliation cannot be achieved separate from the receipt of the Gospel. The character of the Gospel message supports this premise, as the Gospel is marked by the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 2:7), of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), of the kingdom of God (Matt. 4:23), the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), the means of the spiritual begettal (1 Cor. 4:15), the means by which one partakes of the spiritual promise (Eph. 3:6), and the means by which one is called unto the fellowship of God (2 Thess. 2:14). One cannot be pleasing to God, having not obeyed the Gospel message (2 Thess. 1:8).

The reality is this: The Gospel is hid to those who are lost (2 Cor. 4:3) and it must be published to those not having heard the pure, unadulterated message of God (Mark 13:10; Rom. 15:20). May we possess the attitude of the Apostle Paul and recognize that the Gospel must not be hindered (1 Cor. 9:12), especially by our failure to support our own congregation with evangelistic efforts every way we possibly can. May I encourage each member of this congregation to do his or her part in supporting the evangelic effort by simply inviting the community or friends to visit our services. Spreading the “good news” does not have to be difficult. While getting a bible study with someone is a great thing, inviting them to church is always a step in the direction of helping them find God. Don’t leave the “go” out of the gospel message. If we desire all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth just like God does, then we have to do our part to help spread the glory of God.

Will God always honor man’s repentance?

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Bob Mathews

³⁰Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. ³¹He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. ³²He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. ³³Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. (1 Kings 16:30-33)

²⁰Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. ²¹‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel-slave or free. ²²I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.’ ²³“And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ ²⁴“Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country.”…²⁷When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. ²⁸Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: ²⁹“Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” (1 Kings 21:20-29)

Is your life so bad that you could compete with someone who “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of [the kings] before him”?

Have you ever felt like such a sinner, like you’ve made so many fall-on-your-face blunders that you’re beyond hope and God will never forgive you?

Ok, let me ask you this — is your life so bad that you could compete with someone who “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of [the kings] before him”? Unless your name is Jeffrey Dahmer, I’d be willing to bet your life can’t even come close to that of Ahab’s on the scale of “badness”. (Oh, and Jeffrey Dahmer? I fully expect to see him in heaven. If you want to learn about his conversion story, write me or add a comment below and I’ll tell you about it.)

Ahab doesn’t even come close to comparing with King David, but the way he reacted after hearing Elijah’s curse was reminiscent of David’s reaction after Nathan’s confrontation (2 Samuel 12:1-9). Make no mistake; this was real repentance. Ahab was not simply putting on a show to get Elijah to change his curse to a blessing.

So does this mean we can expect to see King Ahab in heaven? Sorry, not my call — nor yours.

Nor is it the point of this post.

The point is God noticed and God honored Ahab’s repentance. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He waited patiently for Ahab to repent. He waits patiently for you too, but He will not wait forever. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3), when neither you nor I expect it.

God is waiting; what are you waiting for?

Maranatha.

A Bible Brain Teaser

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Bob Mathews

Disclaimer: This puzzle is written by a person not a prophet. It is not God-breathed scripture. Please enjoy the brain teaser simply for what it is.

I came across this brain teaser and wanted to share it with all who might enjoy digging into scripture to search for an answer. This may be simple and fun but will hopefully show us the importance and joy that comes from searching the scriptures daily.

Here is a little history: This puzzle was written by a lady in California in 1890 in response to a gentleman in Philadelphia who said that he would pay $1,000 to anyone who could write a puzzle that he could not solve. He failed to do so, and paid the lady $1,000, a great sum at that time.

God made Adam out of the dust,
But thought it best to make me first;
So I was made before the man,
According to God’s holy plan.
My whole body God made complete
Without arms or hands or feet.
My ways and acts did God control,
But in my body He placed no soul.
A living being I became,
And Adam gave to me a name.
Then from his presence I withdrew,
For this man Adam I never knew.
All my Maker’s laws I do obey,
And from these laws I never stray.
Thousands of me go in fear,
But seldom on the earth appear.
Later, for a purpose God did see,
He placed a living soul in me.
But that soul of mine God had to claim,
And from me took it back again.
And when this soul from me had fled,
I was the same as when first made;
Without arms, legs, feet, or soul,
I travel on from pole to pole.
My labors are from day to night,
And to men I once furnished light
Thousands of people both young and old,
Did by my death bright lights behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive;
The Bible and its teachings I can’t believe.
The fear of death doesn’t trouble me;
Pure happiness I will never see.
And up in heaven I can never go,
Nor in the grave or Hell below.
So get your Bible and read with care;
You’ll find my name recorded there.

Here is a hint: This was written in 1890, so, the King James Version of the Bible will give you the best possible way to find the answer.

Please feel free to comment what you think the answer is. If you have already seen or know the answer, please don’t ruin the fun for everyone else. I will the answer in the comments next week.

The Noticer

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Bob Mathews

That’s the title of a book I read several years ago. It’s actually a fairly short book, but with other things stealing my time, it took me a while to finish it.

…a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person’s life.

Part fiction, part nonfiction, it’s taken a good bit from the experiences of the author, who lost both parents as a teenager and was homeless — living beneath a pier. The Noticer is a man known simply as “Jones”. It’s not really correct to say Jones changed the author’s life. More correct would be to say Jones caused the author to change his outlook on everyday situations, and that’s what changed his life.

Here’s one of Jones’ tidbits:

“Here for you, young man, is a law of the universe—one of many, to be sure, but one that is especially applicable to your life at present. Remember, whatever you focus upon, increases.”

Jones explains:

“When you focus on the things you need, you’ll find those needs increasing. If you concentrate your thoughts on what you don’t have, you will soon be concentrating on other things that you had forgotten you don’t have—and feel worse! If you set your mind on loss, you are more likely to lose…But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person’s life.”

One way Jones causes us to think about interpersonal relationships is to explain the “four major dialects that we use to convey and feel loved.” Here are the four:

Spoken words of approval
Favors and deeds
Personal contact
Quality time

I’ll just pass those along without comment other than that we all feel loved in different ways. If we limit the way we convey love to only the way we most feel loved, we’ll fail much of the time.

This book is very biblical, but it’s not based on scripture; it’s based on experience. It’s a book that would be at home on any Christian’s bookshelf, but don’t let it spend too much time there; read it first, share it, and if you’re lucky enough to get it back, read it again. Then put it on your bookshelf!

The Noticer, © 2009 by Andy Andrews. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Video of the author’s interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts

Staying Motivated to Win Souls

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Bob Mathews

Being motivated to win souls in personal evangelism does not happen accidentally. It occurs as a consequence of several factors which the Bible demands of children of God and is also the result of the heartfelt realization that there is an ongoing need for evangelistic activity. I suggest we do the following ten things as we seek to develop and maintain motivation to win souls through evangelism.

Love the Lord with all our heart and share our love. – Matt. 22:36-38
Love our neighbor as our self and share our love. – Matt. 22:39-40
Focus on the great spiritual danger confronting mankind. – Eph. 6:10-13
Focus on the great number of lost souls. – Matt. 7:13-14; 20:16.
Focus on mankind’s inability to save self. – Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 5:12-17.
Focus on the few number of workers bringing in the harvest. – Matt. 9:37-38
Focus on the limited opportunities we have to win souls. – Matt. 25:14-30
Focus on the grace of God operating in our lives. – 1 Tim. 1:13; Eph. 3:2, 8.
Focus on the Word’s power to change lives. – Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
Focus on a positive, confident attitude. – Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 5:6, 8; Heb. 11:1.

Personal evangelism is necessary in every community if the church is going to continue to exist and have the opportunity of thriving numerically and spiritually. We, as other congregations, face the inevitable aging process, the decease of older members, and other causes which may reduce membership from time to time. Let us have renewed interest in personally being involved in evangelism. As members of the church we have to do our part in this work, in fact, the Lord demands that we use our abilities and talents as opportunity permits.

Just because it seems like the world around us is walking farther away from God, we are not excused from doing our part to win over those souls. Saving souls really comes down to us having the desire to help those that are lost without God to find Him through His Son. If we truly care about more than our own salvation, we have to look at all people with the same loving value and desire for their salvation that God looks at all. He desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth! Do we caring that desire? God wants all. How many are we willing to reach out to on His behalf? We may be the answer from God for someone who is seeking the truth. Don’t let opportunities to assist in the saving of souls slip by.

Is our worship too casual?

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Bob Mathews

It’s 10:30 AM on Sunday morning. (Maybe your services don’t start at 10:30 AM, but humor me here.)

Worship is about to start. How will you know when it does?

The song/worship leader begins to sing a song.
Someone in the audience spontaneously begins to sing a song and the congregation follows.
An elder gets up to make announcements and says, “Good morning!” Then he repeats his greeting if the congregation doesn’t reciprocate loud enough.
As congregants enter the auditorium, they see a scripture displayed on the screen. At 10:30 AM, a man goes to the podium, greets the congregation, reads scripture, and says a few words to help the assembly prepare for the next hour in the presence of Holy God.

J. Randal Matheny, a missionary in Brazil, writes one of the blogs I sometimes read. He suggests we’ve become too casual in our approach to worship. A few years back, he observed…

…kids are text-messaging during worship. Elders must move them to repent (parents, to discipline), and repent themselves for not taking action.…Praise teams, praise music and contemporary worship have not elevated our sense of the divine presence in worship, but coarsened our spirits to be titillated by sensual and visual stimulation. We miss seeing the Invisible.

We need to prepare for worship — not just appear at the appointed time (or 10 minutes late; after all, what do we miss? A couple songs?), but to recognize that we’re being “ushered into the Lord’s presence”, as Matheny wrote.

I know people who have admitted to attending worship only on Sunday morning (and never Bible class) “because that’s all that’s required”.

He also believes it’s shameful to “start a song to quieten people down”. I think I’d agree with that, if that were truly the reason. I’ve been a member of more than one congregation though, where we did begin services that way, and the reason wasn’t to quiet people down. The song was chosen specifically to help us remember that we are indeed sinners in the presence of a Mighty God, and were assembled to worship Him. What’s wrong with that?

“We miss seeing the Invisible.” Indeed!

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

If that’s what’s on your heart when you begin worship — great! If not, why not?

Matheny observed, “Our worship, also, has been sanitized. The blood and gore of the cross have been mopped up.” I agree. The cross was a horrendous way to die! It was painful. It was humiliating.

You’ve seen The Passion of the Christ. If you thought Mel Gibson went overboard, if you thought he made the scenes from the scourging through the crucifixion needlessly gory, I’d like to suggest you don’t have a real sense of how terrible it was to be sentenced to death at the hands of the Romans. If anything, Gibson sugar-coated it.

Here’s the crux of the matter, according to Matheny:

The main issue, probably, is emotional burnout. We’ve thrilled ourselves to death. Worship doesn’t send a shiver up our legs. So it’s ho-hum, ho-hum, to dreary church we go.

That’s right. We’ve become tired of worship. It does take 1-2 hours out of our weekend, after all. Why be bothered? In fact, I know of people who have admitted to attending worship (not to mention never attending Bible class) only on Sunday morning “because that’s all that’s required”. Ouch. Let’s reverse that. What if Jesus did “all that was required”? Not a single one of us would have a hope of eternity in heaven. Jesus, yes, did what was required in order for us to have a hope of eternal life, but He didn’t do only what was required for Him to remain Holy God. He already had that stature, and nothing can change that.

What was required? Nothing. What was necessary in order for His younger brothers & sisters to have a hope of eternal life with Him? Exactly what he did. He, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, gave His life so that I, the ugly, blemished-all-over black sheep sinner, might live with Him forever.

Hallelujah!

Goodness like God

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Bob Mathews

“And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,” – Ex. 34:6

As we mature in our faith, we want to become more and more like the God we serve. Exodus 34:6 shows us many of God’s attributes that we should strive for as best we can, such as goodness and truth. Paul also teaches us about goodness and truth in Romans 15:14, noting the people in Rome “also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another.”

It is interesting to note that Paul mentions they are full of goodness before he says they are able to admonish one another. This teaches us a pretty important lesson. We are often quick to notice and point out the flaws or sins in someone else’s life. But if we do this without the right spirit (being full of goodness), we will simply pepper them with harsh words that can offend much more than help. When we approach people with a self-righteous and judgmental attitude, they may choose not to hear what we say because of how we say it. If our attempts to correct others begin with our desire to look smarter or godlier, then we are not helping anyone at all.

However, if we are maturing in our faith and becoming more like God, we will be growing in goodness. And when we are full of goodness, our motives in helping others will be pure. The point won’t be how smart we are; the point will be how God may use us to help another person. And the other person will be more likely to listen to what we have to say, if they can tell it is coming from good intention and love.

Being full of goodness means loving God with all your heart and letting His love and mercy fill your entire life. When you’re full of God’s goodness, it will begin to overflow and have a positive effect on everyone around you. And when others are touched by this godly goodness, they may want to find out where it came from. Then they too can meet the God of goodness who can changer their lives forever. It can all start with you!

What about the change?

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Bob Mathews

There’s a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that describes some of the ways he shows his faith — he’s got a T-shirt, a bracelet with letters on it, a necklace & key chain, Bible magnets on his refrigerator, a “bless you” welcome mat, a Jesus bumper sticker, and the outline of a fish on his car. He’s got almost everything a “good Christian needs”, but he’s wondering something we should all wonder — what about the change? What about the difference? What about a life that shows I’m undergoing a change?

Indeed. What about the change? You know — the change the apostle Paul said we should all undergo?

What about the difference? What about a life that shows I’m undergoing a change?

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2

That word transformed in verse 2 is translated either “transformed” or “changed” in every English-language translation I checked. It is this Greek word that is the root for our English word metamorphosis. It’s the same word translated “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2. Think about the change a caterpillar undergoes in order to become a butterfly. Think about the change Jesus underwent on the mount of transfiguration. That should give you some idea of the visual quality of the change we are to undergo when we become Christians.

No, our face won’t shine like the sun, but the change should be just as visible! We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16), so we should shine brightly enough for those around us to notice.

One more thing about this word. In the Greek, it’s a present tense, imperative, passive verb. It’s you must let yourselves be transformed; it’s not you should think about transforming yourselves if you want to. That means it’s not us effecting the change; someone (rather, Someone) else is the source of the change. It’s not a change that happens in the future — it happens now! And it’s not a suggestion!

So, what about the change? Can you see the change in your life? More importantly, can others see the change (and the reason for the change)?