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Yes, Lord.

OK, super sleuths, let’s see if we can detect a repeated theme here . . .

“Yes, Lord.”1 Two blind men, when Jesus asked if they believed He could heal them.
“Yes, Lord.”2 Martha, when Jesus asked if she believed Him to be eternal life.
“Yes, Lord.”3 Peter, when Jesus asked if he loved Him.
“Yes, Lord.”4 Ananias, when Jesus called to him in a vision.

Notice the pattern? Of course, we do.

Over the past several weeks, our study of transformation has focused on God’s active role in the process: He is the changer, we are the changed. Notice the active and passive voices in these transformation related Bible verses:

“Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son”5
“We all . . . looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.”6
“May the God of peace . . . work in us what is pleasing to him.”7

Again, in each case, God is the actor and we are the acted upon. This is a great thing, for He is doing in us what we could never do ourselves, even if we were so inclined. Does this mean we have no role in our transformation process? Not at all. Our role can be summarized this way: “Yes, Lord.” “Yes, Lord, I trust in your promises,” and “Yes, Lord, I obey your command, I submit to Your lordship.”

Our “yes” is a choice we make not only daily, but moment by moment. Our “Yes” comes from knowing God loves us, which liberates and inspires us to overflow His love to others. Our “yes” is our rest—the peace of trusting God and the joy of doing what He has leads us to do. And most amazingly, even our active role—our “yes”—is from God, for “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”8

Over the next few posts, we will delve into our active role in our transformation, our response to God’s initiative in us. We begin here: embracing the liberating joy of “Yes, Lord.”

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” (Isaiah 26:8 NIV) May the lives you are transforming bring you glory. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 Matthew 9:28 NIV
2 John 11:27 NIV
3 John 21:15-16 NIV
4 Acts 9:10
5 Romans 8:29 NIV
6 2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB
7 Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
8 Philippians 2:13 ESV, emphasis added

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Transformation: The Spirit Leads, We Follow

Over breakfast recently, my brother recalled us learning to waterski in beautiful, sandy-bottomed Mullet Lake, near Cheboygan, Michigan. I got up on the second try, but Eric had a more difficult time. “I kept trying to pull myself up,” he recalled, “I had to learn to let the boat do the pulling.” (We see where this is going, don’t we?)

Beginning with our June 10 post, we have focused as believers on our ongoing transformation into the image of Christ Jesus. We saw first that God has a vision for us: to be like His Son. We then recognized that we’re not there yet; our change into His likeness is ongoing. Most recently, we have observed God as the actor in our transformation: like the boat, God is the puller, and like the skier, we are the pulled. A similar analogy offered by the renowned pastor and writer, John Piper, lasers in on being “led by the Spirit.”1 Piper offers this helpful contrast: “The Spirit is not a leader like the pace car in the ‘Daytona 500.’ He is a leader like a locomotive on a train. We do not follow in our strength. We are led by his power.”2 This is the Christian life. As Paul writes elsewhere, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”3 We live under His power and move at His pace.

What does being “led by the Spirit” infer but ongoing relationship with Him? On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus assured His disciples of God’s continued presence through the coming of the Holy Spirit. “You know Him because He remains with you and will be in you,”4 Jesus promised, adding this: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak.”5 The Spirit leads; we follow. He pulls; we ski. Then how do we best hear the Holy Spirit, so to recognize His voice and follow His lead? The Spirit of God speaks through the Word of God; He speaks its truth into our soul and its direction into our day-to-day life. The Spirit is present in prayer, stirring us to praise, confession, intercession, petition, and thankfulness. In fact, He himself “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”6 This is relationship—active, fruitful, grateful relationship.

Then here is what we’ll find: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh [sinful nature].”7 He will always lead us in the ways that are good and right. And along the way, He will transform us, and we will be transformed.

Father, teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.8 In Christ I pray. Amen.

1 Galatians 5:18 NASB
2 John Piper, “The War Within: Flesh Versus Spirit,” Desiring God, June 19, 1983, accessed July 4, 2026, desiringgod.org.
3 Romans 8:14 ESV, emphasis added
4 John 14:17 NASB, emphasis added
5 John 16:13 ESV, emphasis added
6 Romans 8:27 NIV
7 Galatians 5:16 NASB
8 Psalm 143:10 NIV

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God’s Workmanship in You

Peggy and I have been undergoing an extensive master bathroom remodel. A new shower stands where sinks used to be, the new sinks go where the tub once sat dormant, and we’re gaining a few more feet of closet space. It’s shaping up nicely, and it’s going to be great. Our contractors are truly craftsmen, purposeful in planning and exceptional in execution. Peggy and I have done plumbing work before, but not like these guys. We’ve taped, mudded and drywalled, but not to their standard. We’ve tiled floors and set cabinets before, but these artisans bring an excellence that builds only through experience. Yes, it’s going to be great, thanks to their workmanship.

Through His prophet Ezekiel, God foretold a remodel inconceivable to the human mind and of incalculable proportions: “I will give you a new heart,” He said, “and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”1 This is not merely change for the sake of change, but to a glorious end. God continues: “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”2 Then with His Spirit alive in us, we obey Him not only because we must, but because tender, responsive hearts absolutely delight in doing so.

Such transformation into the image of Christ is every bit as much an act of grace as is our salvation. We could attempt to change by our own power and wisdom, as though transformation were a “Do It Yourself (DIY)” project, but we would fall far short of God’s master plan for us. Paul writes, “the grace of God has appeared . . . training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”3 God’s grace—and only God’s grace—could bring about such change, for “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”4 Like a master craftsman with great skill and purpose, God exceptionally executes His purposeful plan in us.

Salvation is only our beginning of new life. Let God strip away the old from you and build in you the new. Let Him sand away your rough edges. Rejoice as He equips you “to do every good work”5 and thus live an impactful Kingdom life. Give thanks for His workmanship. And enjoy the remodel.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.”6 Mold me as you must and always for your purposes and glory. Make me steadily more like Jesus. I am your workmanship, for which I am ever grateful. In Christ I pray. Amen.

1 Ezekiel 36:26 NLT
2 Ezekiel 36:27 NIV
3 Titus 2:11-12 ESV, emphasis added
4 Ephesians 2:10 ESV
5 2 Timothy 3:17 NLT
6 Psalm 51:10 ESV