Not so many years ago a song filled the airwaves of the Saturday morning cartoon world. It told us that some vehicles on the road were actually much more than they appeared to be. When they transformed, they became unstoppable machines. Some of them combined to become something even greater than any could have been on their own. In a way, they were a picture of something that fell out of a letter written long ago by an imprisoned Apostle named Paul. He wrote to a small congregation of two house churches and told them they needed to focus on the transformation process, and combine to become something God could use mightily against evil. They were “more than meets the eye!”
Key Principle: To be transformed I must deliberately change what I am focused on in my daily life.
Paul wrote: “Because Jesus paid our complete bill and we are raised into a new life through Him, we should now focus on the transformation process. We begin by adjusting our focus from things on the earth as the center of our satisfaction to focusing on our Master and making Him happy as He reigns from Heaven” (3:1).
How do I do that? How do I change the center of my focus that has always been on ME and move it to be about pleasing my MASTER? Fortunately, God’s Word doesn’t just give the standard, it helps us in the execution of the practice. There are eight specific areas I must address and some practical ways I can move my focus from the ways of my past to the transformation to become what God wants me to be.
Eight Steps to Change:
First, to focus on this transformation process I must train my thinking to get satisfaction when He is satisfied in Heavenly places (3:2). My desires must be put to death and subjugated to His desires (3:3) so that when Jesus comes I will stand with Him as part of His loyal host (3:4). I have to change WHO I am living to please. If I want to be a part of those who stand in the host of Heaven’s army, loyal and trusted among the companions of my Lord in the future, I have to change my thought life. If I live to please ME, then I am not fit to call myself one of HIS. In practical terms, every believer will want to begin his day acknowledging the ownership of His Lord. He or she will want to frequently ask about direction, purchase with His nod of approval, speak with awareness that the Master is listening. When I train myself to realize the nearness of God, I walk in harmony with God. When the enemy moves in to tempt us, he does not get us to HATE God, but to FORGET God. If that is true, frequently recalling His presence and seeking His approval for choices will help me steer away from disobedience and forgetfulness. It starts with the mind.
Second, to focus on this transformation process I must force the desires of my past life to become powerless over me – those passions and lusts that drove me (3:5). They include (3:5b):
- Immoral practices: (porneia) defiled or unlawful use of sexual gift
- Impurity: (Akatharsia) ceremonial or moral impurity – living beyond the restrictions
- Passion: (Pathos) used as one subject to – the idea of something else controlling you
- Evil Desire: (kakos epithumia) evil cravings or longings
- Greed (which is idolatry): (Pleonexia) the unending hunger for acquisition
These things are building to the day of God’s interruption and judgment (3:6). We USED to live in them, but transformation means they are drying up inside us (3:7). If you look closely at the list above, oozing out of the words are the attitudes of selfishness. They are all about ego and fulfilling desires of the flesh. They are all rooted in lies. Sex won’t fulfill my need for intimacy. Living outside the rules may seem exciting, but it will be short lived. Allowing inner lusts and passions to overtake someone may help sell a cheap thrill novel, but impulsive living will lead to ruin in relationships and put a stain on our reliability to one another. Insatiable hunger for more will drive me to make unhealthy decisions in this life and unholy ones for the next. Curbing inner desires is no different in substance than curbing bad eating habits. I must stop feeding on the wrong thing in the short term to realize health in the long term. It may not be easy, but it can be aided by cooperating with others around me and moving from places of temptation!
Third, to focus on this transformation process I must deliberately change both my attitudes and the expressions of my mouth is used (3:8-9). I have to set aside:
- Anger: (orgay) untempered agitation of the soul
- Wrath: (thumos) heat; uncontrolled outbursts of burning frustration
- Malice: (kakia) depraved speech and thinking
- Slander: (blasphemia) speech that injures another
- Abusive speech: (Aischrologia) debased speech, obscenities
- Lies: (Pseudomai) speaking substantive untruths
No place are attitudes so obvious as in our mouths. When we let a matter burn our hearts within, a small amount of pressure will push out the feelings within. The text counsels that I my set some bad attitudes aside. In practice, I may need to stay away from some influences that stir up my heart (news, tv, etc). I may need to withdraw from conversations with people that I am fully aware peddle in smut or gossip. I want to be a witness, but transformation focus requires that I understand who is being changed. If I am being pressed into the mold of the world, it is time to withdraw for a time of renewal and re-strengthening before I continue to reach out to that particular person or group. Weak Christians can damage the testimony of the Lord and His people quickly.
Fourth, to focus on this transformation process I must add in truth about what pleases my Master (3:10). This seems obvious, but many show in their walk they do not naturally discern this. Time spent in the Word is essential. Time under solid Bible training in small and large groups is essential. In addition, the only way to grab the Bible and really understand the truths contained in the pages is to really study it. Discipleship is essentially helping a young believer be molded by the power of the Spirit through the work of the Word.
Fifth, to focus on this transformation process I must open my heart to people. The first way to do so is by understanding that we all have the same need and hope in Messiah (3:11). There is no second Gospel for Jews. There is no special handshake Gentiles need to learn. We all come the same way- men and women, Jew or Gentile, bond or free. We don’t all LIVE the same way after salvation, but we all get salvation the same way. There will be commands that differ between men and women, Jew and Gentile, bond and free men and women. Essentially, we have more that binds us in identity than divides us, and that is important to understand. The second way is to deliberately clothe myself with attitudes that are not natural to my flesh (3:12):
- Compassion: (Oiktirmos) open behaviors that show undeserved mercy on another.
- Kindness: (Chrestotes) positive and useful helpfulness
- Humility: (Tapeinophrosune) “low judgment” or other person centeredness
- Gentleness: (Prautes) Reasonable disposition
- Patience: (Makrothumia) “Long heat” enduring
- Forbearance: (Anechomai) prop one another up
- Forgiveness: (Charizomai) To graciously restore another
- Love: (agape) Godly acted out love without self interest
- Unity: (Sundesmos) bound together as in ligaments
- Rule of Peace: (Eirene) tranquility
- Thankfulness: (Eucharistos) grateful, mindful of undeserved mercies received
I don’t naturally think in these terms. My flesh and ego have been my companions from birth, and I find myself unwilling to let go of their hands easily – but it is an essential reality of the transformation process. When my hunger for transformation becomes strong, I will turn my eyes to others and see them as more important than myself. I will become softer and less concerned with how I look in front of them. My Savior’s pleasure will come out as I emulate His behaviors (Philippians 2). In practice, I need to look at others with a desire to help them grow to become what God wants them to be. I need to factor “how it makes me appear” out of the equation!
Sixth, to focus on this transformation process I must let the inner voice of my flesh evaporate as the Word of my Savior becomes the voice I heed. This will grow stronger when I am carefully instructed and taught by my faith family, when we sing it out of our hearts together and lift our thankful voices to the Savior (3:16). One of the most practical ways I can drown out the flesh screaming within in to learn thankful singing and praise. Here is the paradox: what comes out of my mouth is reflective of my heart – yet – what comes from my mouth can affect my heart. Try it. When you want to grumble, put on your favorite praise music and sing alone in the car. Turn it up loud! Pretend you are in a corporate worship setting. Then picture yourself before the throne of your Master, giving praise that pleases Him. See if that doesn’t change your attitude and lift your burden!
Seventh, to focus on this transformation process I must do all according to Jesus’ character to thankfully serve Him (3:17). Linked with my songs of praise must be actions of praise and thanks. I need to focus on the character of my Lord and His example. I need to think of how He has done so much for me – an undeserving one. When I see another in the street that has a need, my heart will be softened if I have been focused on thankfulness in what He has given me! That brings us to the last focus point…
Eighth, to focus on this transformation process I must change the way I deal with the people in my life (3:18-25). Each role has its own challenge:
- Wives be subject: (Hupotasso) “to station under”; deliberately place myself in subjection to
- Husbands love your wives: (agapao) selfless and “not embittered” is no easily irritated with them
- Children obey your parents: (Hupakouo) place your hearing under
- Fathers don’t exasperate: (Erethizo) stir up contention with
- Slaves obey, work heartily: (pseuche) put your soul, breath into it
Each of the people in the end of the passage must change what is natural to them. A wife does not want to place herself under her husband. A husband desires to be selfish and gets easily irritated with the questions of his wife. Children want to do their own thing. Fathers don’t look with understanding when operating in the flesh. Slaves don’t want to put their backs into every aspect of the work.
Here’s the point of transformation. We have to become what we are not in the flesh. We have to allow the Spirit of God through the Word of God to transform us into the people of God for the glory of God. God is able, and desires to make these changes. At the same time, they require daily steps of obedience on our part. No one else can make us change. We must submit to the process. All the DNA of the butterfly is found in the caterpillar, and all the DNA of a God-honoring and transformed powerful believer is found in you and I. It is time we change our focus.
