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Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

My husband’s current wife is not the same woman he married. Now hold on, it seems like I am talking about two women, but they are both me! Let me explain: we are constantly changing and transforming. The things that happen to us (good or bad), the people we meet, what we hear, and truly anything with which we have contact have an influence on us. 

Over time, I have become more sensitive and patient with some things, but also incisive and direct with others. My husband has also changed over time, and we are under the impression that many things that were challenging to us as a couple in the beginning are now smoother because we know each other and work better together, sharing a purpose. The truth is that whether we like it or not, we are gradually transformed, intentionally or spontaneously, and people around us notice these changes just as the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law in Jerusalem did. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Ac 4:13 NIV).

Peter and John were regular people, but because they were close to Jesus, they were changed into confident and courageous men, aware that the preaching of the gospel was the most important part of their existence, even if it put their lives at risk. From regular fishermen to fishers of men, communion with Jesus transformed them. It is not any different for us — the more time we spend with Christ, the more intense our transformation is.

Before this transformation can be noticed by the people around us, it must happen within us. It starts when we submit ourselves to Jesus, desiring to be more and more like Him. We can’t do it alone. Transformation is not simply a human effort; it is the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. By giving our hearts and lives to Jesus, the Spirit acts within us, changes our values, removes our vices, and makes us more and more like Christ.

Throughout this process, there is something very precious about contemplation. As already mentioned, everything around us has an influence on us and can help or hinder our transformation process— hence the importance of silencing the distractions around us and focusing on our relationship with God. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2Co 3:18). The word of God gives us the opportunity to know the wonders and power of the Creator, the character and teachings of Jesus, and the miracles and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have so much to contemplate in order to be transformed.

In what area of your life do you need to grow and develop to be transformed into the likeness of Christ? What thorn do you need to remove to be more like Him? 

In what area of your life are you striving to deepen or need someone to help you maintain your commitment to be transformed? 

May we maintain the strength and enthusiasm to be transformed, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus until the day of His return. “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion  until the day of Christ Jesus” (Php 1:6).

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Written by Elesa Goad Mason, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Texas 

Have you ever loved something or someone so much that you knew in your soul God had a plan for your life with your greatest desire in it? Well, even if you don’t, Jacob did— at least when it came to love. In the beginning of Genesis 29, Jacob begins his journey to find a place to work and live, with his mother’s brother Laban. He needed to find a place to “hide out” to avoid his brother Esau’s anger and desire to kill him for pulling off the successful “deceit of the century” of his father, Isaac, for Esau’s birthright and blessing as the oldest son.

Fear took him there, but love at first sight kept him there in Harran. After staying with his uncle for a month, Laban approached Jacob about a paid position working for him.

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” (Ge 29:18)

Laban readily agreed, and the beautiful wedding was set in motion. However, upon waking up after the wedding night, when the alcohol wore off and the veils were removed, to his dismay, Jacob realized that he had bedded Leah, the older sister, instead of his heart’s desire.

Therefore, he was tricked into an additional seven years. The next morning, Jacob’s ranting led Laban to agree to let Jacob marry Rachel after he completed Leah’s one-week marriage bed, but only with the guarantee of seven more years of labor. I often wonder why Jacob was so shocked at the whole plan. After all, wasn’t it his own deception and struggle for redemption that landed him there in the first place?

By marrying both daughters, he created a very complex, eclectic family of his own. Both women competed for his love and attention. In biblical times, the sign of a successful wife was a fertile woman who could bear many children for her husband, particularly males who would carry on the name as well as the bloodline of the father. Leah, the older daughter of Laban, was described as tender-eyed, while the younger, Rachel, was described as lovely in form and beautiful. It was well known that Jacob deeply loved Rachel and was silent about his feelings toward Leah.

This rivalry leads to the birth of twelve sons, who become the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. The birth of these sons symbolizes the continuation of Jacob's lineage and the fulfillment of God's promise to make his descendants as numerous as the stars.

I often wonder how taking circumstances into our control, such as Laban deceiving Jacob with the “wife switch” wedding ordeal, shows the glory and compassion of the Lord in ways we could never imagine. Leah may have thought she was getting quite a catch, but in the end, she turned out to be unloved and unwanted. God showed Leah empathy by opening her womb to six sons for Jacob, who had no idea during his lifetime what she really did for him… More than 30 generations later (Mt 1), Jesus was born through the line of Judah, Jacob’s fourth son through Leah. Who knew!? God knew! 

God uses our unmet expectations to meet His needs— His plans for us. The smile across the grocery store, moving out of the way of an impatient driver, helping a stranger who appears to be in need are ways in which we may have no idea that we are meeting God’s expectations of us. And that’s just the little stuff. When children run away, when marriages fail, when dear friends pass away much sooner than we think they should, God has a purpose and a plan for everything in our lives and decisions. 

When we just can’t understand why our plans aren’t turning out the way we had hoped they would, we must believe that God may be changing the wedding ceremony from the dress rehearsal for a reason.

Find a way to encourage those in your lives, including yourself, to trust in the journey deviations that God places in our path to fulfill His desire for salvation for everyone (2Pe 3:9).