Chameleon or a Butterfly?"
"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 4:24
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. " Romans 12:2
"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - II Cor. 5:17
Many of us look at Christianity as just a general belief in Christ. Yet, Christianity is nothing more than a mental assent or general acknowledgement of Christ. If one truly accepts Jesus Christ from His heart, touched by the Holy Spirit, there will be REPENTANCE and FAITH (Acts 20:21) in Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR, they will become a NEW CREATION (II Cor. 5:17).
Now, let us take a quick look at Romans 12:2.
the word "CONFORMED" and "TRANSFORMED" as to its Greek (the original language of the Bible).
CONFORMED - Greek is "sunschematizo" and refers to the act of an individual assuming an outward expression that does not come from within him, nor is it representative of his inner heart life... Thus, it means STOP masquerading in the habits of this world, its mannerisms, speech expressions, styles.
TRANSFORMED - Greek is "metamorphoomai", which speaks of the act of a person changing his outward expression from that which he has to a different one, an expression which comes from and is representative of his INNER being. Thus, it is to be changed from the INSIDE out (this is where we come up with our English word "metamorphous").
So the question I ask you today is,
"Are you a Chameleon or a Butterfly?"
First let us look at a Chameleon type Christian.
A Chameleon changes color based on the environment he is in to fit/blend in. If it's on something green, it turns green; if it's on something brown, it turns brown. But you know that the Chameleon is exactly the same critter.
So it is with many who carry the name "Christian." When they are around Christians, they look and act like a "Christian." Yet, when around the world (lost/unsaved), they look and act just like the world.
They look like them in their actions (deeds, words, etc.). This type of "Christian" is not a Biblical Christian at all!!!
A BUTTERFLY-TYPE CHRISTIAN is one who has truly been transformed into a most beautiful NEW creation. Once a caterpillar, now a butterfly! He is not the same anymore, he has been transformed!!!
This is what happens to the Christian. When he becomes a true Christian he CHANGES! (Luke 6:46) When he's at church or Bible study he's a Christian (like a beautiful butterfly), and when he is around others in the world (work, day-to-day activities, home, etc.) he still is a beautiful butterfly. He doesn't change based on his environment. Some may not like him being a butterfly, but he is one! He has been changed through Christ!
Oh, to be a NEW CREATION, shining Christ's beautiful love and life to a lost and dying world without spiritual hope apart from Christ!
May the beautiful butterflies be found everywhere!
So I ask you, is your Christianity more like that of a chameleon or a butterfly?
LORD, MAY OUR LIVES BE EVIDENCE TO OTHERS THAT WE HAVE TRULY BEEN CHANGED BY YOU!
In His Service,
Jim Mazzulla (Founder of BibleFood devotional)
Email:biblefood@gmail.com & jim@biblefood.org
We have also added:
http://sermon.net/biblefood (full length sermons)
http://www.biblefood.blogspot.com (Biblefood devotions in blog format)
www.youtube.com Devotion in video form - New idea - We'll see how it goes - Approx. 8-12 minutes in length).
Video Devotion 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxF73vRAw5g (Moral Decline)
Video Devotion 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FK7nz7PvVk (Human Life)
Video Devotion 3 (todays): Not up yet!
With all that being said, regular devotions by e-mail will continue, but also be aware of these other avenues of receiving the devotions.
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If we start getting enough response on FB, we'll start a "BibleFood" group for devotions and comments, etc. there as well.
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