Open to change

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter. 

(William James)

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 6:14-15)

What will you be when you grow up? Do you remember being asked that question so many times as a kid? I have been asked that question several times as an adult, so I guess I haven't 'grown up' sufficiently for some! I have a different way to ask this question today: What will you be when Christ is fully done with you?

Each and every day is another opportunity for Christ to work within our lives - transforming us into this 'new creation' he has in mind for each of us. As he moves across our lives, we are transformed, renewed, and almost 're-engineered'. We may still see ourselves one way, but God sees us as becoming exactly as we are in his eyes. It is this transformation process that we often resist - not because we don't want to see this new creation, but because all change is hard.

While Mr. James was a philosopher of sorts, his words ring true to each of us. We begin today to be what we will become tomorrow. All of life is about change. As I am now in the sixth decade of my life, I would say change comes rapidly at times. When I was in my second decade of life, I would have told you change didn't happen fast enough. Why is there such a difference? I guess it is because I have become much more 'accustomed' to change.

Instead of resisting what God is doing, might you choose to embrace it? It could just be the door that opens to becoming what we will be. We are 'made right' through Christ, but each day presents opportunities for us to begin to 'be right' (live right). We cannot ignore that all of life presents change - we must be open to God's leading when 'what we are becoming' is his main focus for us today. Just sayin!