My friend was rejected as a child.

He was put into the foster care system because he was “difficult.” He grew up bouncing from home to home. As a result, he was molested and turned to the streets to deal with his internal struggles. Eventually, he got into drugs, promiscuity, and stealing.

His life was headed for a dead-end until he was introduced to Christ at a foster home. That encounter changed his life. From then on, he was transformed.

He dedicated his life to Christ. It wasn’t easy, but he was determined to seek God. Today, he is a minister who works to ameliorate the lives of others through social work.

Accepting the truth of Christ purifies our souls and transforms our hearts.

Each believer has a transformation story. Romans 3:23 says everyone has sinned and missed God’s standard. No one is born faultless. Before trusting Christ for our salvation, our lives were miserable, empty, and meaningless. We lived for our own interests and our lives were headed for a dead-end until we made a U-turn. That U-turn occurred when we chose life by surrendering to Christ.

Now, as we remain in a relationship with Christ, our obedience, founded in love to God, purifies us. We can walk in newness of life because of Christ’s transforming work in us.