Pause_____________ think for a moment about the transformation that takes place when a caterpillar is being changed to the butterfly.
After hatching from a tiny egg, caterpillars eat constantly for practically two weeks building up enough energy to start their transformation. Caterpillars live mostly in hedges and bushes. They live underneath the leaves of the plants to hide themselves from predators. Caterpillars are usually found in dark places, such as, long grass. They usually hide themselves during the day, and only feed at night.
Once they start their metamorphosis or transformation, they hang upside down from a branch or stem then spin a little silk pad called a chrysalis. Inside the Chrysalis, the caterpillar's body digest itself from the inside out. into a soupy like substance or pulp. There the wings and antenna occurs, it's approximately a two weeks process. The butterfly then breaks out of the Chrysalis and fly's away.
This process or transformation causes me to reflect on the life process of a new believer in Christ; change can be a tough process, sometimes it seems like our life is spinning out of control. but humility will help us get through this process by God's divine power.
In the book of 2 Peter, Peter is encouraging the church to stimulate Christian growth; to take courage and stand on God's word, In the introduction of this chapter, Peter introduces himself as a servant first then an apostle of Jesus Christ, but in 1 Peter he introduces himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter was one of the twelve disciples when Jesus was among the earth. Peter was a fisherman when Jesus asked him to follow Him. Peter started out with many flaws just as you and I, he was quick tempered, outspoken, and overly confident. but nevertheless, Jesus had patience with him, Just the same as He has with you and me.
The more Peter had learned about Jesus the more humble he became, and as he decreased, God increased in his life.
God works with the believer from the inside out, and it all starts with your faith. what do you believe?
2 Peter 1:1-11 Peter is encouraging the believers to add to their faith; its not enough to say that you are a Christian because faith without works is dead. He tells them to add Virtue which teaches us morals and high standards. "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him" Isaiah 59:19. Knowledge which teaches us how important it is to know God and to be in a relationship with Him. Self-Control is mastered by humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God. It teaches us discipline which helps us to become disciples for Christ. Perseverance teaches us how to be steadfast unmovable. we won't quit. Godliness is an act of humility or childlike fear. "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" Matthew 18:2-4. Brotherly Kindness helps us to carry out the most important commandment there is. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" John 13:34
One thing that really stuck out to me in this transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly, is the butterfly weighs less than the caterpillar. yes, they have a different diet. The caterpillar eats leaves, but the butterfly gets his nourishment from drinking nectar from flowers.
Hebrew 12:1-2 reads let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fixed our eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Then He said to them all:"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24
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