“His desire is not to conform us, but to transform us.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within (Kindle Location 441). Kindle Edition.

Jesus didn’t die to get us all to look or be alike but to be who we were created individually to be.

Now as a parent I understand the desire to do this. We have two children who are now adults with their own families. Our son came first and we found some ways to deal with him and his personality but then our red headed daughter came along and what worked with Brett didn’t work with Stefanie. God made them both unique with different personalities and different needs and different potentials and it was up to us to see that and to enhance that. We were not to make Stef like Brett. God created them both as individuals.

That is the way God sees us. His desire is to not conform us to be like everyone else but to transform us into the person He created us to be. It seems like everyone else wants us to be the same. They are constantly striving to put us into a mold. Wear the same clothes, have the same hair styles, think the same way, drive the same car, vote the same.

Now it is true there is only one way to God. It is through Jesus Christ and there are some absolutes that we must believe but it is not a conforming situation but a transformation one. It is like a caterpillar that is transformed into a butterfly not a caterpillar that is forced to be like all the other caterpillars. Transformed, not conformed.

So what does God want to transform you into? Look at your abilities, your passions and your dreams, your personality. Let them give you insight into what God wants to transform you into and then go for it. And don’t let anyone conform you into what they want or they think is right for you. Let God transform you into who He created you to be.

So are you being conformed or transformed?

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