180 Degrees: Transformation

A change of season.

Math Joke: If you wonder why I like to walk around with graph paper, it’s because I’m plotting something.

I’m still trying to fathom that this is the final week of Spring. Summer is right next door! I’m very excited to be serving at my church’s camp in July and August (more to come), but that does mean my 180º series is at its end. If something specific stood out to you, please leave a comment or contact me! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore in more depth come Fall, please let me know!

Since March, I’ve tackled 14 topics. The tie-in: all of them relate to Jesus’ call for us to go 180º (math reference) against human nature. Jesus wants us to be in the world but not of the world. To do that, we’ve had to shift our mindset…

180 Degrees

My faith has grown exponentially in the last three months, and I hope yours has too! With wildfires raging across my home province, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to ask God for help (and to praise Him). God is good, and He uses challenges to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.

The world around us has changed too. When I started this series, snow covered the ground and trees were bare. Now grass grows and the trees are coated in leaves. Jesus wants to see that same kind of transformation take place in our lives. He came to earth not just to save us from our sins, but to make us alive. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead. Because of Christ, we are alive!

Where now?

Just because my series on following Jesus (and not human nature) is over doesn’t mean we should stop growing. To combat an increasingly hostile world, we must constantly seek God. Read His word, pray, serve, volunteer, build fellowship and friendships – these make a great foundation.

Today I have three “quests” for you to embark on this summer. Each of them relates to one member of the Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit).

Note: If you find the Trinity confusing, that’s okay. However, it’s not something we should accept as “blind faith”. In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, I read about nitrate ions and resonance theory. Call it God’s way of showing us that the Trinity is scientifically provable. Search it up if you wanna see the awesomeness of God.

1. Study God’s Nature

“And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”
-Jesus (John 17:3 NLT)

The more you know God, the more you know yourself. As I grow in my relationship with God, He builds my character. He exposes my faults so I can ask for forgiveness, and He draws out the best in me. You can read books about God and listen to podcasts, but please don’t neglect prayer and studying the Word.

You will learn so much about God by reading His Word – the Bible. I’m currently going through a Bible in a Year plan on the YouVersion app. If you haven’t done this before, please do! It has been an awesome experience. I’ve learned more about God’s love, character, and heart for us. Plus you can’t not pray more as a result.

To know what you stand for, you must know Who you stand for.

2. Seek Truth.

“But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him.”
-Moses (Deuteronomy 4:29 NLT)

As Christians, we’re truth-seekers. We’re not just Christians because it seems ideal, or because it’s what our parents taught. We find Christ because we seek truth. Seeking truth is what brings us to Christ. When you study God’s Word, you’re discovering truth.

There’s no such thing as “live your truth” because God is truth. Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life. As soon as we tell someone they can “live their truth” we make them into a god. Who are we to determine truth? So keep studying the Bible and the life of Jesus, all summer long!

To know the truth, you must ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7).

3. Share Hope.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
-Jesus (John 14:26 NLT)

Two weeks ago we celebrated Pentecost at church. Pentecost is the day we commemorate the arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). Because Christ died, rose again, and made us alive in Him, His Spirit now dwells in us.

We have a small piece of God within us! No, this does not mean we are “one with God”, but it does mean that God’s spirit is always there for us. That is some hope, and I desperately want to share it with others.

This summer, will you join me in sharing His hope? When someone is hurting, sad, or discouraged, we have the solution – Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This is our hope.

To know true hope, you must know the One who offers it.

Coming Soon…

Because of Christ, we have been transformed into new beings, capable of spreading His message to those around us. Jesus commands us to share His message. He knows how desperately the world craves it. So let’s share His hope and love!

Next week I’ll publish a “bridge” post, linking this series to my upcoming summer series. I also have some big updates about what summer will look like. Until then, for His glory, always!

To quote 2 Corinthians 13:14…

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”