Being Transformed

I could really spend some time whining and complaining that classes started too early, or I could complain that my Summer break was too short, or it was too hot to do anything, or whatever I could find to complain. There are times when we are allowed to complain. But what does it really say about who we are a Christians? Not too much.  As a matter of fact, I have recently been called in to a situation where one person complains constantly, no Constantly, No actually I mean CONSTANTLY. One day in the very recent past I had one of the faithful Church ladies (you know the type....blue hair....and sitting in one section....) said to me I am not convinced that this young man is really a Christian let alone if he is ready for the ministry.

It was at that very moment that I began to wonder just how much complaining I did? The following verse from 1 Peter 4.1-6 hit my mind. Lets look at it for a moment.

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit."

Does grumbling, complaining and arguing build a Christ-like attitude? No this builds up strife, and the holiness of God is not available to one in this state. Peter writes here that because Chrsit suffered in His body that we need to arm ourselves against the evil one with a Christ- like attitude. A person who is "done with sin" is a person who no longer lives according to human desites....Wait, what does that mean? I guess that it means that a person will not get their way, It also means that selfishness--which is demonstrated by complaints and arguments--MUST cease in order to become the men and women of God that Christ Jesus wants us to be. This is the reason for the Gospel, that we live according to God's will in the Spirit of Holiness.