WHEN YOU WERE SAVED, HOW MUCH OF YOU WAS TRANSFORMED?

SCRIPTURE:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 
(Philippians 1:21)

MEDITATION:
When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, 
his life stopped going in one direction and headed in the opposite direction.
Instead of persecuting those who were followers of Jesus, 
he started pointing people to Jesus.
Look at what made him happy.
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for 
me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 
(Philippians 3:1)

Notice he says to “rejoice in the Lord”.
He doesn’t say, rejoice in ourselves (we are sinners).
He doesn’t say, rejoice in others (they may fail us).
He doesn’t say, rejoice in our circumstances (circumstances change).
He says, rejoice in the Lord (He is always there; He is consistent; He is 
dependable; He helps us to find inner peace in spite of our circumstances).
Instead of persecuting those who were following the Lord, 
he now tells them to rejoice in the Lord.

Paul knew what it was like to have a new heart and purpose.
Some of the Jews felt that circumcision somehow created 
a right relationship between them and the Lord.
But Paul knew that it is a spiritual circumcision and not a physical 
circumcision that creates a right relationship with the Lord.

It means we allow Christ to remove our old sinful habits 
so we can be more focused on the Lord.
In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human 
hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were 
circumcised by Christ (Colossians 2:11)

Paul points to three characteristics of those who are truly circumcised.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, 
who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh 
(Philippians 3:3)

1. “serve God by His Spirit”
   The human spirit communes with the divine Spirit.
   Our prayers are with a spirit of the divine Spirit.
   And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and 
   requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for 
   all the Lord’s people (Galatians 6:18)

2. “boast in Christ Jesus”
   We no longer boast about what we have, what we can do, 
   or what we have accomplished.
   May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
   through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 
   (Galatians 6:14)

3. “no confidence in the flesh”
   We look to God’s grace for our needs as opposed to human efforts.
   God can provide our physical, emotional and intellectual needs.
   Our confidence in His ability to provide increases 
   due to a circumcised heart.

Paul admits that he once had confidence in human achievements.
He even felt that he had more qualifications and reasons than others 
for trusting in the flesh.
Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks 
they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. 
(Philippians 3:4)

He also admits that he was guilty of persecuting the church 
and had a flawless record regarding legalistic righteousness.
As for zeal, persecuting the church; 
as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. (Philippians 3:6)

But now Paul was a new person with a new perspective.
As a result, He felt that the things that were important before his 
conversion are replaced with the importance of serving Christ.
His sense of values had been reversed on the road to Damascus.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 
(Philippians 3:7)

Paul had been transformed and now knew 
the significance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
He also realized the importance of nurturing a fellowship with Jesus.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth 
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I 
consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)

Paul willingly gave up all that made him important in the eyes of the world,
so he could concentrate in becoming more like Jesus.
He wanted to understand His view in all things, 
and to develop those same views in himself.
He wanted to have a confident power 
of being able to defeat sin, and the fear of death.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and 
participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10)

In summary, when Paul was converted, he was fully changed.
Paul dedicated one hundred percent to persecuting Christians, 
but now he gave that same one hundred percent to serving the lord 
and pointing others to Jesus.
Paul cashed in everything worldly and sold out completely to the Lord!

ACTION:
Have you allowed Jesus to completely transform you as He did Paul?
What worldly things and attitudes are you still holding on to?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You know that making a transformation from who I was to 
who You want me to be is difficult. I cannot make this transition in my 
strength alone. I need Your help in order to complete the conversion. My 
desire is to leave the worldly values behind as I develop a greater 
relationship with You. Forgive me for the worldly and sinful things I am 
hanging on to, and give me the confidence to defeat their grip on me. I 
look forward to becoming a completely new person who enjoys fellowshipping 
with You and pointing others to Jesus.”