Last year I wrote a blog on “Feeding Our Faith” in which I challenged the reader to not just rely on words that God spoke over you yesterday, but to daily seek Him for a fresh revelation / download. I then wrote about how pizza is an amazing meal when it is eaten right out of the oven. It is equally delicious served left over the next day. However, it does not take long for that pizza to no longer have the ability to provide the nutrition we need. The truth is that the moment it leaves the oven, if begins a process of growing bacteria which eventually turns to mold. Thus, eating that same delicious pie will make you very sick to the stomach if we leave it sitting out on the calendar for more than a few days. I took this analogy and compared to our eating of God’s word, our daily bread, that we must have to survive in the current situation of lock down that our world is facing right now. The whole point was that we need to be daily eating fresh bread straight from the fire of the altar of the Lord!
Today, I want to go a step further and write about what happens to us as we make this a daily habit to intentionally seek Him for a fresh word. In Romans 12:2, Paul encourages the Roman church to “Not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” What catches my eye about this scripture is the word “transformed”. The Greek word that Paul chose to use in the original text is “metamoorphoo”, which is where we get the English word “metamorphosis.”
For those who do not know, a metamorphic rock was originally a different type of rock that was placed under high temperatures and extreme pressure of an extended period of time. Once the process is completed and the rock begins to cool, it comes out in a completely different form.
The word “Metamoorphoo” is only used a few times in scripture, primarily describing the transfiguration of Jesus when He took Peter, James, and John on a small hike up the mountain. The writer of the gospel of Matthew said that in the moment of transfiguration that “His face shined like the sun and His clothes became as white as light.” The writer of the gospel of Mark said that “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than any bleach could bleach them.” Luke wrote in his account of the gospel that “the appearance of His face changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening.” Think for a moment about the implications of what the gospel writers are saying here. Jesus just climbed a mountain and was likely covered in dirt and mud. Yet in this moment of “metamoorphoo” His face is as bright as the sun and His clothes whiter than bleach can bleach them with the brightness of a flash of lightening! Talk about a complete change!
Back to Romans 12:2. In his use of terminology, Paul is trying to communicate to the church the magnitude of what happens as we renew our minds with His word. I believe that as we follow this mandate that we will be “metamoorphooed” into the image of Christ! Church, this does not come by just reading the Bible for 10 minutes a couple of times a week either! It takes an intentional, daily effort and it requires taking the time to meditate on the word! The more time you spend in His word and in His presence, the more your mind will be renewed to fall in line with what He says about you as opposed to what the world is constantly trying to tell you. Let’s take for a moment and read through 4 passages that demonstrate what happens as we meditate on His word.
Joshua 1:7-8 “Only be STRONG and very COURAGEOUS; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have SUCCESS wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way PROSPEROUS, and then you will have SUCCESS.” Here, Joshua is saying that as we meditate on His word, we will be prosperous, strong, courageous, and successful!
Psalm 1:1-3 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree FIRMLY PLANTED by streams of water, Which YIELDS ITS FRUIT in its season And its LEAF DOES NOT WITHER; And in whatever he does, HE PROSPERS.” Here, David is saying that we will be fruitful, strong, healthy, productive, and prosperous!
Psalm 119:97-99 “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me WISER than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have MORE INSIGHT than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.” In this passage, David says that we will have wisdom and insight!
Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are LIFE to those who find them And HEALTH to all their body.” Here, Solomon promises that we will have life and health.
Church, taking a good look at this list, you will see the incredible fruit of what happens when we meditate daily on His word and allow Him to renew our minds. We will become fruitful, strong, healthy, courageous, productive, prosperous, successful, and have wisdom, insight, life, and health! This is what Jesus desires for His bride to experience! This is the abundant life that He promised to those who believe in Him and follow His ways!
As I close this blog post, I want to leave you with a challenge. Are you willing to spend less time on social media and more time reading His word? Are you willing to spend less time thinking about the posts and opinions on your friends and more time thinking about what God is saying about you and the situation you are facing right now? How you answer and respond to these questions will determine to what degree you are able to experience the "metamoorphoo" process and live the abundant and fruitful life that Jesus has promised us.
If you would like to hear an incredible story about how a chair changed a man’s life, take 10 minutes and watch this video on my YouTube Channel.