What a cute illustration of who we are in Christ!  I absolutely love this and it is a great depiction of our faith journey as well as how we be the body of Christ.  

Let’s deal with our faith journey first.  Jesus is all about transformation.  He is all about changing us from the inside out, moving us closer and closer to the beings that he originally created us to be.   That process lasts our entire earthly lifetime until he finishes the transformation during the End Times. 

“I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 1:6

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 

1 John 3:2-3

This transformation: 

  1. Is messy because we are sinful.
    1. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
  2. Is slow because we are not perfect.
    1. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.  We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6
  3. Has setbacks because we make mistakes.
    1. For we all stumble in many ways.  And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. James 3:2
  4. Takes work because change is hard. 
    1. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23
  5. Takes love because God is love.
    1. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
  6. Is worth it because of our eternal rewards.
    1. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

Knowing this, be easy on yourself!  Don’t get down because you aren’t moving as fast as you want to be in your walk with Christ.  Focus on him, put one foot in front of the other, make the changes you can, and just keep moving forward.  God rewards all efforts to be closer to him.  Soon, you will find that your little efforts have grown and before you know it, you will have significant transformation!

So how does this apply to being the body of Christ?  Very simply. If transformation is messy and slow, then we need to extend grace, not judgment, to those that are trying.  If transformation has setbacks and takes work, then lets help each other out and encourage each other.  If transformation takes love, then let us extend love to each other instead of criticism. If transformation is worth it, then let’s keep our eyes on the prize instead of the failings of others. 

  1. How has God transformed you so far?  Was it messy getting to where you are now?
  2. What are areas you know need transformation?
  3. List the little steps you can take to follow Jesus in those areas.
  4. How can you show love to others when they’re walk looks messy and slow with many setbacks?

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Meme pictures derived from social media and shared under Fair Use Copyright Law

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