This post is Day 8 in a series of studies about “Renewing the Mind”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Renewing the Mind – Day 8

Baby dogs, look like their parents, baby spiders look like their parents, as do birds, reptiles, and certainly people, but not butterflies!! The change that happens in the life of a caterpillar to make it into a butterfly is an interior change before it becomes an outward one.

Romans 12:2

… but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

The Thought

The New Testament was originally written in Greek and the Greek word used here for ‘transformed’ is metamorphoō. It is described as an “altered outward appearance resulting from an inward change”. It is obvious that our word metamorphosis has its root here. and as our minds are renewed, there will be an outward change. Remember the butterfly story in the introduction!

I do not know of any other living creature where the adults are so very different to the babies. Do you?

Baby dogs, look like their parents, baby spiders look like their parents, as do birds, reptiles, and certainly people. But not butterflies!! The change that happens in the caterpillar’s life to make it into a butterfly is an interior change before it becomes an outward one.

As you read and study the word of God, you will change on the inside first. You will realise what it really means to be His child. You will be able to really call Him “Daddy” as Jesus encourages us to in Matthew 6:6. (The Greek word “abba” used in the text is the children’s form of “Father”).

There will be a change in our way of thinking and in our actions. Even our outward appearance will change as we become more like our Lord Jesus through studying and meditating on God’s word. People will notice the difference.

Action

Ask the Lord to show you the changes He has already wrought in your life. That will encourage you to know that you are well on the way.

Praise Him that He will not give up on you until the changes are complete. Pray for the stamina to keep going, and to apply His word to your daily life.