The true mark of a believer isn’t found in outward appearances or religious activities—it’s revealed in the depth of their character. Transformation through Christ is not just a one-time experience but an ongoing and consistent journey of becoming more like Him.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
The evidence of a transformed life is the fruit of the Spirit being developed in the life of a believer. This is where the rubber meets the road! We can say, teach, preach, pray, prophesy, or do many things, but the true question remains: Does our life reflect the fruit of the Spirit? Especially when we are pressed in tough, stressful, or hurtful situations, can we honestly say those qualities are evident in our lives?
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Most of us will spend a lifetime walking with God, allowing Him to shape and mold us into His image. The issue is not if we have arrived but recognizing that we have a long way to go regardless of our activities or Bible knowledge. I often hear people share how they grew up in church yet didn’t grow spiritually. Some spent 20 or 30 years in Bible-believing churches, only to find that church had become a social, cultural, or ministry-centered activity. They missed the need for transformation because they were too busy doing church and hearing message about the need for transformation which gave the impression that transformation was happening.
I didn’t grow up in a church, as living in a Muslim nation made access to one extremely difficult. So, it’s disappointing to hear those stories. I know the cost some people in other nations pay to gather together to read the Word and worship God. There is a cost for them being a follower of Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to gather a crowd of followers—He came looking for followers willing to be changed by His power and grace!
If the church in America is to have the potency to be the light and salt of the earth, that power must come from the transformed lives of its believers. This nation won’t be changed spiritually by a president or another program a church offers. Instead, we, as believers, must leave corporate and worldly mindsets about serving God and climbing spiritual ladder, stop looking for our identity in church, and develop a hunger for righteousness. The self must go and the Kingdom of God needs to be welcomed in our midst!
The only hope for this nation—or any nation—is a group of truly transformed people who are unafraid to share the gospel and boldly speak the truth. But it doesn’t stop there; their lives must reflect the change they proclaim. Each of us has a mandate from the Lord to fulfill His will—in our homes, at work, in our churches, and in our communities. We bear the responsibility to take our calling seriously and refuse to simply follow the crowd, even if it’s the church crowd!
Now is the time for each of us to make a decision in the light of His marvelous work. Let’s rise to be standard-bearers for Jesus, shining His light and truth in a dark and weary world and live a transformed life!