Changed by God!

For Wednesday, January 18, 2023:

Romans 12:2 NIV: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

A lot of popular culture is rebellion against God. As humans, we want to fit in, we want to be a part of things, but the writer is urging caution. It is far better to fit in with God than to fit in with the world.

God will willingly transform your mind and your thinking. God will renew your mind to his specifications, to his way. There are immense benefits to this huge change, this radical transformation, this metamorphosis. Just as a beautiful butterfly emerges from a cocoon a totally transformed being from the one that built the cocoon, so is the Christian a changed person, no longer recognizable as the one who previously conformed to the world.

With your spiritual eyes opened, you can see, test and approve of God’s purpose for you. God’s plan for you is always good and pleasing, so rejoice! If you ask for bread, do you think your Father would bring you a stone? He will not!

You’ll find God’s will for you is always perfect!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Transformed!

For Saturday, May 1, 2021

1 Corinthians 15:51 NLT, Paul speaking: “Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!”

Paul is giving the Corinthians (and the world) hope for their life after this life. Death, as we know it, is not the end!

Paul explains that our earthly bodies must be transformed into bodies that can live forever with the Lord. We will be radically transformed for the better!

If you’re a believer, your heavenly destination is assured. If you’re not a follower of Jesus, your destination is also assured, but it’s a miserable existence. The question isn’t, “Will I live forever?” It’s, “Where will I be spending my time?”

Focus on the light of the world!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

New Creation!

For Tuesday, March 16, 2021

2 Corinthians 5:17 CEV: “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.”

One Minneapolis church's mission statement speaks of the “radical transformation of lives through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus changes those who come to him by faith, those who are “in Christ.” The saved are not just forgiven; they are changed into a new creation!

God doesn't just “mend” the new believer; God “re-builds” them, creating something better, something brand new. And as with all of creation, God can look upon the believer he has transformed and declare that they are “very good!”

Therefore the foundation of Christianity is all about what God did for us, not about what we can or should do for God.

God wants to do a new thing in everyone's life!

Blessings and safety to everyone today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Renew Your Mind!

For Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Romans 12:2 NRSV: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

As humans, God has endowed us with the gift of discernment. I believe God puts good people in key positions, and wants us to use our brains to figure some of this out!

As believers, we first accept a couple of truths:

1. The Bible doesn't contradict itself, and

2. God's character doesn't change - his morals are etched in stone.

So do not be deceived by the trends of the world; a lot of it will be wrong, non-conforming to God's ways! Instead, use your God-given mind, and when presented with challenges, ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” If you're living in harmony with the Lord, you'll have hope in this world and in the next!

Blessings and safety to all as we remember the birth of Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Radically Transformed

June 23, 2014 Monday Message:

“Do not conform to the world; rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2a

Paul is the poster-boy for radical transformation. As a devoted Jew, his mission was to stomp out this new group, the Christians. But God had other plans.

Paul was struck blind as Jesus personally chastised him. This bold warrior had to be led by the hand into the city, where Ananias prayed and laid hands on him.

And here’s what happened next:

1. The scales fell and Paul’s eyes were opened.

2. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. Paul was baptized.

He reversed directions, did a 180º, switched sides. We call this radical transformation. Paul soon became a church-planter, bringing Jesus to the Gentile world.

Still today, the Holy Spirit radically transforms new believers, who receive the blessing of having their lives flipped upside-down. And when someone is radically transformed, they clearly show evidence of their changed life. Everyone knew that Paul had been radically transformed, and they’ll know if you have been radically transformed too.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week Pastor Van Dickerson continues the “Freedom in Christ” series.