From a Cocoon to a Butterfly

The hour has come for you to wake from sleep. Romans 13:11

D.L. MOODY
There are a great many in the church who make one profession, and that is about all you hear of them; and when they come to die, you have to go and hunt up some musty old church records to know whether they were Christians or not. What we want is men with a little courage to stand up for Christ. When Christianity wakes up, and every child that belongs to the Lord is willing to speak for Him, is willing to work for Him, and if need be, willing to die for Him, then Christianity will advance and we shall see the work of the Lord prosper.

ERWIN LUTZER
Moody said it like it is: True conversion results in life-change. But can we really change or are we all stuck with the personality and desires we were given? How does God mold our character? The Lord has given us a certain amount of raw material and He works with what we are, but we might ask: Does God make far-reaching changes within us, changing our motivations and our attitudes so that we become different people? The answer, of course, is yes!
In the Gospels, we see Peter the cocoon; in the book of Acts, we see Peter the butterfly. Before he was filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was filled with timidity and fear, but suddenly we see him speaking in boldness because God was standing with him. Just so, God gives us what we need for the moment. Inner transformation is available for those who desire it.

PRAYER
Father, teach me to say no to my sinful desires and weaknesses.
Today, let me receive the strength your Spirit can give me to bring about inner transformation.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What can we learn from the changes in Peter after Pentecost?

What transformation have you noticed in your life since you have come to faith in Christ?