WHAT IS PREVENTING YOU FROM BEING COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED?

SCRIPTURE:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making 
the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do 
not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 
(Ephesians 5:15-17)

MEDITATION:
When we are Christians, other people have certain expectations of us.
Lost people have expectations and saved people have expectations.
But, more importantly, God has expectations.
With so many different expectations, which ones should we try to fulfill?

Silly question isn’t it?
Of course our desire should be to fulfill God’s expectations for us.
The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be 
questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in 
this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and 
are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other 
apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:27-29)

Peter and the apostles chose to obey God regardless of the consequences.
When it was between 
the Sanhedrin (the highest ruling power) and God, they chose God.
The Sanhedrin thought they were in authority, 
but the apostles knew that ultimately God was in control.
They showed the kind of dedication we should have as Christians.
 
God wants to help us develop an undeniable faith and trust in Him.
To make us useful servants for His kingdom, God’s desire is to break 
our self-will; that independent thinking that continually puts “self” first. 
He doesn’t want to break “us”; He just wants to 
transform those parts of us that do not reflect Jesus Christ.

Our heavenly Father sees who we really are, 
so He targets those areas in our life that will hinder our Christian growth. 
Attitudes of pride, jealousy, anger, and unforgiveness need to be dealt 
with, so that His divine love and truth will flow through us to others 
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with 
every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving 
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32).
 
To promote change, He will bear down on us 
and maintain pressure until we respond. 
We may feel uncomfortable, but we have to remember, 
everything He does is from a heart of love.
The Lord desires what is good for us, and will do what is necessary to bring
about transformation in our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and priorities.

Through times of brokenness, the Lord teaches us a great lesson. 
Being yielded and obedient to God is what makes our service valuable to Him.
Have you ever noticed that whenever you are being disobedient in a 
particular area of your life, it seems that you often hear sermons, songs, 
devotionals, or even comments from friends or family about that very 
“thing” you are struggling with?
Not only do these sources make you uncomfortable, but you may even 
resent the person because he or she is reminding you of your guiltiness.

ACTION:
Have you been cooperating with His work in your life? 
Do you give thought to how your life 
either contributes to His work, or is detrimental to His ministry.
There are some things that He wants you to avoid, 
but there are also things that He wants you to do.

Some things He expects of all Christians, but there are
specific expectations He has assigned for each individual as well.
What are you not doing that He expects of every Christian, 
and what are you avoiding that He specifically expects of you.
Transformation will take place 
when you surrender to the Father and cooperate with His Spirit.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me as You do. Forgive me for my 
wrong attitudes and help me to let others see Your Holy Spirit living in 
me. Teach me to consider others as more important than myself in obedience 
to Your instructions (Philippians 2:3). Father, I truly want to be 
completely transformed by You. I know there are times when I stumble and 
give in to temptations, but I need Your help in the areas of my life where 
I am defiantly being disobedient. My desire is to develop the same kind of 
faith and trust in You that the apostles showed in the face of danger.”