I once attended a meeting where a 16-year-old boy sang several gospel songs, and as he sang, his face shone with joy. I learned later that he had grown up in a horrible home environment. From the age of 12, he had been forced to steal to support his family, and within a year, he was also stealing to support his own drug habit, which his life of crime had led to. He had been arrested and spent years in and out of juvenile correctional centers. But one day, some young people met him on the street and led him to receive Jesus, and his life was completely transformed.
How had that transformation taken place? The Bible says, “All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”[2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT] The transformation takes place by beholding Jesus. Many people try to transform their lives with human striving and carnal willpower, but through self-effort they can never experience the kind of transformation that boy did—never! It can only happen as we behold Jesus.
Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and let Me abide in you.”[John 15:4] This is the secret of the transformed life: Jesus abiding in you and living out His life through you. He’ll do the transforming and change your life for the better if you give Him the chance!
If you haven’t yet asked Jesus to help change your life for the better, you can do so right now. Simply pray a prayer like the following:
Jesus, I want to share my life with You. Please come in and transform me into a new person.[See Romans 12:2.]