Transformational Thoughts

Transformational Thought #1
"I am God's son and He is well pleased with me."

Everyone that is a christian or has gone to church for a long period of time has heard this and knows the story that goes along with it. Jesus, before he begins any ministry work, goes to John the Baptist and is baptized. This is where this thought comes from. The clouds part and God speaks and says, "This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Three distinctive things are said there. Number one, "this is my son." The God and creator of the universe claims him as his son. Number two, "whom I love." Not only does the God and creator of the universe claim him, but he knows him and loves him. Lastly, "with him I am well pleased." Jesus, as far as we know up to this point, has not done any ministry work. Jesus did not have to heal a certain number of people or help a certain amount of the poor for God to be pleased with him. God was pleased with him because Jesus was his son and because of the relationship that they had. That story was not put in the Bible just to tell us how Jesus's ministry started, but also to serve as an example and an insight into how God thinks about us. If we could truly not only know with our minds, but believe with our hearts our true identity, then it would revolutionize the church and change the world. He claims us. He loves us. He is well pleased with us.

Transformational Thought #2
"Jesus did not die on the cross for me."

At first, this sounds very controversial but, lets think about it. I know the plan was for Jesus to come down to earth and to die on the cross for our sins but, was he really here for us. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus begged with God that "If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." It is very obvious that he did not want to do it, but the very next sentence reveals Jesus's true motives. "Yet not as I will, but as you will." He was there to serve God and to do God's will; we were just a result of Jesus yielding to God and doing His will. Sometimes I think that I am going to help this person or witness to that person because they really need it, but that is not the right motivation. It is not about those people, it is about serving and pleasing God. If my focus is on the people, then I will be disappointed if things don't go as I think they should, but if my focus is on God and I am doing His will, then it does not matter how things go because I have pleased God.

Transformational Thought #3
"Everything is Meaningless......"

Think about it. What is the point of being a good husband, being a good father, being a good citizen, going to work, going to church, or living life? If when I die there is nothing, then what is the point. Why go on living for the sake of living. This life is just to hard if this is all there is. I am not saying that there are not good times in life, but it seems for every good time, there are three bad times waiting around the corner. None of it means anything with out God. I know everyone has heard this before, but I think I am taking it a little deeper. I am not saying that, "OK, you are saved, you go to church every Sunday, give your tithe, and you are a good little christian, now your life has meaning." I am saying that you can do all of those things and your life still not have meaning. Meaning only comes through a relationship with God. Knowing Him and being obedient to Him. Outside of that you are walking on a tread mill, getting wore out and tired, but not going any where and no point for walking other than for walking sake. God is the reason we live with meaning.