Power to Transform

Mark 12:24 - "Jesus said to them, 'Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?'"

The Pharisees of Jesus' time had become so accustomed to religion that they were totally unaware the Scriptures should contain power. After all, if God's word is merely "words" and does not have power to transform, then what is the sense of their observance? They are then reduced to any other spiritual writings since the dawn of mankind. If all we can do is imitate God rather than being changed by His word, then we are no better off than the Pharisees of Jesus' day.

God's word is creative, so therefore it possesses power (Genesis 1;3). If the word is not transforming our lives, then we may be "mistaken" regarding how we have approached it. Are we looking for religion that fortifies self and makes us feel better about who we are? Or, are we looking for relationship that denies self and desires intimacy with God through His love letters called the Holy Scriptures? If it is the former, then we may clean up well on the outside, but our insides will still resemble hell itself. However, if our desire is the latter, then we will know the power of Christ's transformation as we are renewed daily into His image.