“A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.”
–Unknown

For many of you those are familiar words, and hopefully exciting words. They definitely bring to my mind the images of being transformed by Him. Now I was actually surprised to see that the word “transformed” was only translated 2 times into the NIV in the New Testament. However, they are both pretty exciting:

Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Corinthians 3:18 – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Being the curious soul that I am, I really wanted to know the Greek and/or Hebrew word behind “transformed” in these two verses. According to Strong’s concordance, they are the same Greek word in both verses, “metamorhoo”. What I found really, really interesting though, is that the same Greek word is used in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2, granted, I think they are describing the same event. Those two verses speak to Christ’s transfiguration:

Mat 17:2 – “And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”

Mar 9:2-3 – “And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.”

How many times have you come across a new idea and you were so very excited? For me, I know that when I’ve had those moments where something finally sinks, assuming I was to look in a mirror, my face lights up. I’m so excited. I’m certain that rush and adrenaline are why I keep wanting to learn new things (never thought of it that way before). It should be that same hunger the leads me back to His Word again and again. For familiar words can appear different depending on where I am in my life and what the Spirit has opened my heart to.

Okay, the other real exciting part about the event that Matthew and Mark describe is that when Christ is transfigured He is then talking with Moses and Elias. Oh, man. That is crazy. When I have an epiphany, it is as though a voice is talking directly to me, in words that I can understand. In words that touch my very core. And getting WAAAAY back to that quote that started all this rambling, I am stretched beyond where I was.

May He transform you today.