Ongoing Transformation

The current sermon series is entitled "renew."  Pastor Dave is discussing Romans 12 leading up to Palm Sunday and a time of corporate renewal.  I'm excited about the series.  I like renewal.  I like being refreshed in my walk with God.  I need renewal.  I need God to illuminate and uncover those areas I have shoved to the back burner or under the rug--the back burner those things which I know I ought to do, and under the rug those things that I do that I know I shouldn't (see Romans 7).  This is not a fun process, to say the least.  At the end of the day, I am fully aware of missed targets and missed opportunities.  It is easy to become burdened with these, day in and day out.  But the good news is this:  our transformation (Rom. 12:1-2) is an ONGOING process (church term:  sanctification--the process of being made holy).  We need not be worried about changing over night.  Some may testify to instant changes in habits, addictions, etc., and these do happen.  Some may testify to marriages saved, difficult situations made easier, or physical healings overnight--these do happen.  However, if you asked most believers, they would say that these things took time filled with successes and failures.  Paul tells us in Philippians 1 that "[God] began a good work in you will bring to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  This good work is sanctification.  We live in a microwave society--we want good, quality product NOW.  We nuke our food, swipe our plastic, and go on our way to the next thing on our list, filling our days with things that don't matter much in the end.  But Christianity isn't like that.  Our relationship with Christ is a long journey, step by (sometimes painful) step until the "day of Jesus Christ."  Good things take time to complete.  I have friends who are rennovating a house.  They bought the house this past summer (July).  The rennovations did not happen overnight.  Seven months later, they still have work to do before they can move in.  But, the changes are dramatic.  They are good changes.  When they do move in, they will know the satisfaction of a job well done.  So it is with our lives when we walk this journey with Christ.  He takes the dirty, ugly lives we once lived (apart from Him) and transforms us from the inside out.  He alone can change our hearts.  He alone can fill those voids left by drugs, abuse, or countless other things.  He alone can fill us with joy, love, peace. 
As we go throughout this day, week, month, year, may we remember that Jesus Christ alone has the power to transform us; that He alone has offered the perfect sacrifice that we may be made holy.  May we remember that each day is not just a chance to "get it right," but rather a chance to let Him work in us until He returns.