By Rev. J. Loren Russell
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
1Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The Oxford Dictionary defines transformation as “a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.” What always comes to mind for me when I think of a transformation is what happens to a caterpillar when it transforms into a butterfly. It is not a little change, it is a total transformation, unrecognizable as the same creature that wrapped itself in it’s cocoon.
Paul writes to the Corinthian believers with words of encouragement and instruction. The encouragement is that our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. They were no longer the sole occupants of their bodies. They now belong to God who purchased them for a price. Although it’s not in the text, the price that was paid was the death of Christ on the cross. That payment gave Him the right to use their bodies as His dwelling place.
Paul reminded the believers in Corinth of who they were in verses 9-11(a), then, in the last two sentences of verse 11, he tells them who they became after their transformation; “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Believers today should have the same transformative experience as the believers in the Corinthian church. When they do, believers also go through a metamorphosis. A genuine spiritual transformation should be as dramatic in us as the transformation of the caterpillar into a butterfly. We ought to sprout wings of righteousness, exhibit an attitude of gratitude, show a propensity for forgiveness, display a willingness to love, and demonstrate a spirit of generosity. Our total transformation will be so complete that we, like the transformed caterpillar, are no longer recognizable when compared to who we were!
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company and The J. Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting, an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at Smashwords).
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