Adopt (verb) — to choose or take as one’s own; to make one’s own by selection or assent; to choose and follow; to take on; to assume for oneself; to accept and put into effect.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)
It’s one thing to discover God’s will for my life. It’s quite another thing to personally apply what I’ve learned. The second step to genuine transformation is to adopt God’s way of thinking as my own.
Have you made that choice? The choice to follow, to assume for yourself, to accept and put into effect?
In John 6, Jesus delivers a “hard saying.” One day after feeding the five thousand on the shores of Galilee, Jesus rebukes the crowd. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26). He declares himself to be “the bread of life” (6:35), speaks of raising people “on the last day” (6:44), claims to have “come down from heaven” (6:51), and draws a line in the sand between those who are willing to “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” and those who are not (6:52-58).
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)
Transformation is not a spectator sport. Transformation does not come as a result of “going to church.” Real transformation doesn’t rub off on me as a result of having parents, a spouse, or friends who follow Jesus. Transformation is not the fruit of simply hanging around Jesus, especially when I want something from him.
- Transformation begins with a posture of desperation. “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
- Transformation demands discernment. “What is God’s will for my life?”
- Transformation requires adoption. The choice to make my faith my own. The personal choice to follow, wherever the Savior I so desperately need leads.
Seek the things that are above today. That’s where Christ is. You know what it means to “set” something. You set your DVR yesterday and your alarm clock last night. Set your mind on things that are above today, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Think like Jesus today. Love people like Jesus loved people today. Be committed to holiness like Jesus was committed to holiness today. Wholeheartedly adopt and live for the will of the Father today. Like Jesus.
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