When I was growing up, I used to ride horses every day. I had a mare named Star. She was seventeen hands tall and a joy to ride but she did not like to jump. More than once, she’d do a U-turn and throw me into the jump.

C.S. Lewis once said that being a follower of Jesus is not like a horse training to jump better. Instead, it’s like turning a horse into a winged creature. The point Lewis makes is that sometimes people think that becoming a Christian will lead to a few small changes, but in reality being a Christian is nothing less than a transformation.

Becoming a Christian is a complete change. It’s like my horse, Star, deciding she would jump every time she was asked to. Sometimes with animals, you have to start from the beginning. Becoming a Christian requires complete change – a transformation.

This is the type of transformation that will sometimes cause division because Christians no longer conform to the pattern of the world. Instead of conforming to the world, Christians conform to the pattern of Christ. This type of change means leaving behind sinful situations and temptations. Jesus’ goal was to divide people from their sins. Jesus came to separate us from our selfishness. He wants to split us from our guilt and shame. Jesus came to unite us with God so that we are no longer just his creatures but His sons and daughters.

We sometimes don’t understand peace. Peace only comes when we have a transformation. Because of Jesus, we will have peace forever in God’s family!

Prayer – Jesus, help me to bear the divisions that come from following you. Thanks you for your great sacrifice on the cross for me and for everyone who accepts you as their Lord and Savior. Amen.

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Author: Tommy Herndon