“We went to the Saturday Market out at the fair grounds last weekend,” Stan commented one morning.
“I’ve never been to that,” I replied. “What kind of things do they have?”
“All sorts of stuff,” Stan said. “Fresh produce, all kinds of food, arts and crafts. You name it and you can probably find it there.”
“You find anything interesting?” I asked.
“We got some fresh peaches, a jar of blueberry jam, and some of the best goat cheese I’ve ever tasted.”
“But,” he continued, “the thing I liked absolutely best was this guy who was selling yard art, things that he had made from old stuff.”
“What kind of old stuff?” I asked.
“Mainly metal things that had been discarded,” Stan replied. “Old gears, chains, sheet metal, that sort of stuff. This man was really talented in making new things by welding together stuff that had been discarded. I spent quite a bit of time talking with him.”
“Did you buy anything from him?” I asked.
“I didn’t,” Stan replied, “but I asked him about making something for me. I have an idea for a piece of yard art that I would like him to make. He’s going to come by later this week and see what I have in mind.”
“Well,” I said, “that’s certainly nice that he would make the effort to come by your place.”
“Oh, he’s a real nice guy,” Stan replied. “When I was talking with him we got on the subject of how he came to do what he’s doing. He related it to his faith walk in an interesting way.”
“How so?” I asked.
“He said that he sees what he does with making something new out of discarded stuff to be just like what God does with us when we are willing to let Him do it.”
“Oh,” I said, “like having the old be transformed into something new.”
“Exactly,” Stan replied. “The Bible is filled with examples of that sort of thing. The lump of clay being formed into something different. Jesus telling Nicodemus that he had to be born again. The apostle Paul writing about being made into something new and that he considered everything to be ‘rubbish’ compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus.”
“And,” I added, “I suppose you could even look at this sort of thing as being kind of like the discipleship that Jesus talked about. The part where He said that we must deny ourselves and take up what God has for us to take up as we are being transformed into disciples.”
“Being transformed Into disciples,” Stan repeated. “That’s a good supposition, my friend. It’s like being re-purposed, being called according to God’s purpose!”
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Bible verses to consider:
I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8.
Jesus answered and said to him (Nicodemus), “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2.
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old has passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of a new life in and through Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Thank you for the new life that grants me the assurance of spending eternity in your presence when my time here is completed. Thank you, too, for the new life of knowing you and Jesus in an ever-deepening personal relationship on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I do not allow you to transform me in accordance with your will. I do that because I choose to walk away from your transformation. Please forgive that foolishness. Please help me in following every step of your lead so I am truly transformed into the new person you intend, being the disciple you have for me to be. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you on the path to being transformed into something new? If no, is that because you have not accepted what God has for you as His free and gracious gift of life eternally with Him when it’s time? If that’s the case, why? What’s in the way? If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with being transformed into what God intends for this side of eternity? If you sense changes may be in order for greater transformation, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
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The book. Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing before Going, by S. Tory Teller (Foreword by Josh McDowell) is available from amazon.com and from the publisher at http://www.s-toryteller.com. Great gift — for yourself and for all of your friends!
Waiting for the Train 