Changed Every child born into the world has potential for abilities that can be very rewarding and beneficial. However, the right environment and role models are needed to change from infancy to a fully mature and functioning example of this ability. Until children are inspired by an image of who they can be and driven to become that person, their potential can be lost to trivial and insignificant activities. Long before the awards and accolades, the celebrated musician, athlete, doctor, businessperson, etc., will have been fixated on the person they would become and faithfully committed to being that image. Today, we celebrate with those who have chosen new life in Christ and boldly proclaim that they are dead to the old as they are risen with Him in baptism. As new creations in Him, they've received a new divine nature with an amazing potential for rewarding and beneficial demonstrations on an eternal scale. However, like their natural abilities, accepting the new nature alone is not enough. The unlimited potential received through union with Christ requires an environment and example for the completed change into His image. For everything to change, there must be a new fixation on Christ by His Spirit and through His Word that allows for emulation of Him in everything. In baptism, there is a declaration of a decision that has been made to be dead to the old ways of the world. However, there is also an incredible commitment to become fixated on the Giver of this new life and the never-ending change into His image and likeness that comes with beholding Him. Notes Change Romans 6:4 (TLB) 4 Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy. What is God’s intended change? He sees us complete in Him. Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Christ we’ve already been given everything – found in pursuit of Him. 2 Peter 1:2-4 (NLT) 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. How to become? By drawing close to Him, we’re enabled to see and become. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT) 18 We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. The change into a witness comes by the Spirit. Acts 1:8 (NLT) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Beholding God’s word is discovering who we are in Him – requires continuance for remembrance. James 1:23-25 (NKJV) 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Transfigured by sitting with Him. Ephesians 2:4-7 (TLB) 4 But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much 5 that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved— 6 and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did. 7 And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Overview: When we were dead in sin, Jesus died and was raised for us to have new life together with Him. He has provided for this change to affect every part of life with His divine nature. To experience this change will require fixation on His image discovered in the Word. For every life issue, there is an answer in His image and our emulating what we see in Him. A glance at His image will not be sufficient, as it will be forgotten if not continually seen. God sees us acceptable and seated with Christ in heavenly places – completely changed into His image. Prayer: Father, I am so amazed by your love and mercy towards me, providing new life for me while I was still dead in sin. As I draw near to behold and know You more, complete this work You’ve begun in me and cause me to walk fully in this way You have made, following You with all my heart. Declarations: Buried with Christ in baptism, I have also risen to walk in new life with Him. With my eyes fixed on Him, I have let go of the old and am going from glory to glory into His image and likeness. For every challenge to my new life, there is a promise in Christ that secures me in His divine nature. In relentless beholding of Him by the Spirit and in His Word I am transfigured into His vision for my life.