While preaching through the New Testament book of Romans a few years ago, I came to chapter twelve, verse two, and quickly realized the significance of the word μεταμορφουσθε (metamorphousthe). Britannica defines it as the continuous, remarkable “change of form or structure in an individual after hatching or birth.” The word is metamorphosis and it is translated into English as transformed.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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 (Romans 12:1-2).
There are many ways to discuss discipleship, what it takes to grow spiritually, and how to become the people we are meant to be, but it seems to me that metamorphosis may provide the best analogy because the changes are drastic and visible, as are many of the changes that take place when we come to Christ. The end result of the process is beauty, which is also an apt description of what the Lord brings into our lives.
One of the ways to avoid getting into trouble is to establish accountability measures and allow key people in your life to hold you answerable for what is morally right and what is helpful in your career. It is important to establish professional and spiritual mentoring relationships. We all need someone we can turn to when we are tempted, when we’re hurting, and when we’re about to do something unwise.
When I became a chaplain and went to the Officer Basic Course, Ron Casteel was the class leader. He and I became friends and kept in touch throughout our careers. Not only was he a friend, he became my mentor. Ron knew more than I did about how the military worked. He understood people. And several times when I needed guidance, he was there for me.
Fourteen years after completing the basic course, I had the opportunity to work for him at a senior command. Not only was he my friend and mentor. Now he was my boss. It was a great experience. After he retired, there was one more time that I needed his help professionally, and he was there for me. Having him as a mentor made a powerful impact on my life and career.
Perhaps you should consider finding a mentor. In fact, you might want to identify two mentors: one for spiritual accountability, and one for professional development. Allow key people in your life to hold you answerable for what is morally right, and what is helpful in your career. And listen when they speak or offer guidance.
Wherever you are in your career, it may be important for your growth, development, and success to find one or two people who can speak into your life as a friend and mentor.
Early in my military career, I showed up at a new infantry battalion one day and started meeting some of the guys. The Sergeant Major introduced himself and asked, “Hey Chaplain, do you have your Gotcha Cards?”
“No, Sergeant Major. I’ve never heard of a Gotcha Card, and don’t know what it is, so I’m pretty sure I don’t have one. What is it?”
“Our previous chaplain, every time he heard one of us cuss or swear or use the Lord’s name in vain would pull out a business card, but all it said in big bold letters was GOTCHA. So when the guys heard we were getting a new chaplain, they started wondering if you were going to be like the last one.”
“I bet you guys hated him.”
“Yes. We. Did.”
“Tell you what. I’m not planning on having any Gotcha Cards printed up, so you can relax. Cuss if you want. I’m just here to love you guys.”
Apparently, a bunch of Soldiers were listening to the conversation, because as soon as I made that last statement, a cheer erupted from around the corner.
“You’re gonna fit in fine here, Chaps. Nice to have you aboard.”
Over the next two years, I led more than 25 of those guys to faith in Christ, and I never once said, GOTCHA. Oh, they cussed, alright. But I figured it was the Holy Spirit’s job to reach them, and he does a pretty good job. I just had to do my part, which was love them and be consistent in setting an example of what a Christian is and does.
This is the opening story in my new book titled Gotcha.
My recent trip to Ukraine exceeded my hopes and expectations. In fact, it was one of those ministry projects that you know you’re supposed to do, but you don’t know all that is involved or exactly what the Lord is up to until you’re in the thick of it. I knew I was invited to teach chaplains and pastors at the Poltava Theological seminary Monday through Friday in the afternoon, and that my associate, Dr. Sharon Ackerman would teach in the morning on the same days. What I didn’t know—in fact, nobody knew until the circumstances presented themselves—is that I would be speaking to pastors, chaplains, military leaders, and community representatives in six different locations. I expected this to be an amazing week of ministry in the classroom, but it turned out to be much more than that. This was a powerful, life-changing experience that took place throughout the nation of Ukraine.
Dr. Ackerman’s topic for the week was Medical Ministry, and included issues like trauma, injury, PTSD, compassion fatigue, and depression. She taught on personal healing, spirituality, and the consequences of war, and how it impacts the individual, family, and community. Her interpreter was a local pastor who is brilliant and talented in her own right. The presentations were so good and rich that I wanted to stay and learn from Dr. Ackerman.
New Life Church and the Poltava Theological Seminary
My sessions centered on Chaplain Ministry During Wartime, and included issues such as critical incident response, temptation, loneliness, and the inner struggle we all face when we’re in danger. The dual focus for both Sharon and me was to help the pastors and chaplains effectively manage their own thoughts, emotions, spirituality, and responses to war and then be able to minister to their soldiers, parishioners, and family members who are also impacted by the war. We discussed the fact that the chaplain is a voice of hope, strength, and sanity. And at all times, chaplains represent their government, their church, and in a very real way, their God.
My interpreter was Sofiya Schug. I met Sofiya when I preached at the United States Naval Academy last January. She is the lead soprano in the USNA Protestant Chapel Chorale, with a beautiful, powerful voice. When the pastor introduced me as the guest speaker, he mentioned that I would be going to Ukraine. After the service, Sofiya came up to me and told me who she was: a multilingual Ukrainian-American, married with children, and a professionally trained singer. After hearing about our mission to Ukraine, she felt a strong calling to go and help in any way needed. Sofiya became a true friend and served as my interpreter everywhere I went. She was a tremendous asset to our work in the classroom, in remote locations, and while traveling.
Sharon, Sofiya, and I flew into Krakow, Poland, where we visited Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Schindler’s factory. What a way to get into the mindset of oppression and living in a war-torn country! Then, we took a bus to Lviv, followed by an overnight train to Poltava. Igor Skripnichenko is the president of the Poltava Theological Seminary. He met us at the train station and took us to our hotel. That night, we had dinner with him and his family. They have become dear friends.
My overall assessment of the ministry, the experiences, and the Ukrainian people is that this was definitely a lifechanging experience and that, the Lord willing, I will go again. It was incredible to minister and fellowship with pastors, chaplains, and community leaders. Being able to see and talk with volunteers at the seminary, the churches, and the youth group outreach team was priceless. But let me tell you about some of the special moments that occurred during my time in Ukraine.
I started one of the sessions talking about some of the items I always had in my duffle bag when I was in the Army. The first thing I pulled out of my bag was a roll of toilet paper, explaining that in the Army, you never know where you might end up on a given day, and whether there’ll be any toilet paper in that location. One of the chaplains in the back of the room raised his hand and said, “There’s none where I am serving right now.” When I football-passed the roll of TP to him, he caught it, and the other chaplains broke into applause. I took several band-aids out of my bag and said I always carried a dozen or so bandages in my shoulder pocket whenever I went out with soldiers. One pastor who is a volunteer chaplain, called out, “I cut my finger pretty bad this morning, and nobody had any bandages. I’d like one.” So, I gave him a couple of band-aids. When I mentioned that I always traveled with a flashlight, one of the chaplains said he needed one. I proceeded down the list of several more items. Then I started teaching. When the day was over, the guy who got the bandages came up to thank me, showing me his finger nicely wrapped, and that the bleeding had stopped.
One of my sons creates handmade wrist bands and other items out of nylon 550 cord. When he found out I was going to Ukraine, he offered to make a few things to give out to the chaplains. So, I took five wrist bands, three key fobs, and a lanyard: all made out of blue and yellow paracord, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. I gave away two items per day, and after one of the sessions, a chaplain came up to me, threw his arms around me, ripped off his army patch and handed it to me, saying, “This is not for you; it’s for your son.” Then, because I wore a blue and yellow wrist band all week, one of the other chaplains who got a wrist band, wanted a picture of the two of us giving a fist bump and showing off the Ukrainian colors on our wrists. I think they liked the handmade items almost as much as the content of our teaching. In any case, it didn’t take long to develop a rapport and a love for one another as we delved into the topics for the week.
I told stories from my own war-time ministry experience in Iraq, plus a few of my father’s experiences during World War II. I discussed ministry priorities and gave them an assignment. By the end of the week, they had to turn in a list of their church’s priorities, the priorities of the Ukrainian Chaplain Corps, and their own personal ministry emphases. I mentioned the priorities that guided my work: the four ministry priorities of my church, the Assemblies of God; the priorities of every military chaplain in the United States; and my own ministry emphases. By the end of the week, they all had researched and memorized their own priorities. I have a picture of the entire group holding up their assignment.
I brought up the fact that as pastors and chaplains, we cannot afford to be impressed or intimidated by rank, wealth, fame, or celebrity because to the degree that we are impressed or intimidated, we lose the ability to minister. We represent the highest power, the King of Kings, the One who outranks everyone, and we have the responsibility and the privilege to care for and speak into the lives of people at all levels. That was a fascinating discussion.
One of the sessions focused on the need to trust God for miracles. We all are limited in what we can do, and when we reach the end of our abilities, we depend on the Lord to demonstrate his presence, answer prayer, change lives, and intervene in our circumstances. Then I showed a 7-minute segment of “The Ten Commandments” movie. When Pharaoh’s army pinned the Israelites against the Red Sea, the Lord told Moses to stretch out his staff and the waters separated, allowing the people of God to walk across on dry ground. Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control. It looks like we are out of options and all is lost. That’s when we have to trust God for the miracle.
A few months before going to Ukraine, I got a phone call from a man in Arkansas. He attends the church where my nephew worships, and my nephew had mentioned me at his church, asking them to pray. This man had pastored a church in Ukraine for ten years before COVID, and still has a heart for the people there. While he was praying, the Lord spoke to him. “The people of Ukraine are fighting two wars: a military war and a spiritual war. It is important that they win both wars.” He asked me to share that message with the pastors and chaplains in Ukraine, and I did. After I told the class about this Baptist pastor in the United States who was praying for them and what he had heard from the Lord, one of the chaplains in the class exclaimed, “That’s exactly what the Lord said to me when I was praying a few days ago!”
I did a session on team ministry and the need to be ready for anything. Then I had them do a couple of team-building activities that led to further discussion in small groups. I tell you what, these men and women are anointed by God, hungry to learn from the Word as well as from practical hands-on ministry. They are making a huge difference in the lives of their soldiers, parishioners, and communities.
At the end of the first day in the classroom, Igor told me that some of the chaplains weren’t able to attend the sessions because of the war. Then he asked if I would be willing to go out to where they were. “Well, it depends on where they are,” I replied. He assured me that it would be safe. And since Sharon agreed to take on some extra teaching sessions, the next day we drove out to where the chaplains were serving with their soldiers.
We showed up at a remote army base where two chaplains, five nurses, and about thirty-five morale officers were graduating, having finished their military training. I was the commencement speaker, with Sofiya as my interpreter. However, before I spoke, Sofiya sang the national anthem. She took everyone by surprise. Nobody imagined there could be a professional opera singer out there. And nobody expected the passion, the energy, and the rousing rendition of their song . . . in their language. The next several places we went, we started with Sofiya singing, and you could feel the emotion in the room, the pride, and the instant openness to whatever I had to say.
After lunch, we drove to another base where we met another thirty-five or so chaplains. As in most groups, some were active duty and many were pastors serving as reserve chaplains. I taught some of the same material I covered at the seminary because these chaplains were originally scheduled to be in the class in Poltava.
Between sessions, Igor introduced me to the senior Protestant chaplain, who explained one of the reasons he was glad I was there. According to his story, the week prior to my arrival, the lead Orthodox chaplain had told him, “I’ll wager a case of our finest kvas that the American chaplain doesn’t show up. Nobody comes out here.” The Protestant chaplain accepted the bet. Then they waited. When I walked into the room, I didn’t know why several of them had a funny look on their face, but now I knew. My new friend was looking forward to receiving a case of his favorite beverage!
As we talked, he mentioned that the military chaplains and churches of several nearby nations had come with clothing and other essentials for the pastors and chaplains to distribute. I heard him say “Latvia” and the name “Elmars” when he was talking to someone in Ukrainian, so I asked Sofiya to interpret for me.
“Are you talking about Elmars Plavins in Latvia?” I asked.
“Yes. How do you know that name?”
I met Elmars Plavins in 2007 when I was an Army chaplain in Iraq. He is the Latvian Chief of Chaplains, pastor of a large Baptist church in Riga, and was at my FOB in Iraq to visit his soldiers. The next year, I arranged for him to come to America to visit the Pentagon, our Army Chief of Chaplains, our chaplain school at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and several other locations. This Ukrainian Protestant chaplain said “Elmars is my best friend!” and pulled out his cell phone right then and there for a video call to Latvia. I got to talk to my friend, Elmars, who I hadn’t seen since 2008.
When we got into the car, Igor told me that whenever he’s out in this region, he makes a point of visiting a pastor who lost three sons in the war. Would I be willing to meet him?
Pastor Oleksandr welcomed us to his office, and we chatted a while with Sofiya interpreting. Then he offered a tour of his church. A beautiful building that had been an opera house before the war, the place had been badly damaged, but he and his congregation have been refurbishing and rebuilding so that now it is a beautiful house of worship. Because the war has devastated the area, most of the residents are poor, hungry, and in need of assistance. Many don’t have water. The church dug a well and invited anyone in town to come get water whenever they want. There were two men filling containers when we drove up. The church collects clothing and supplies from various places in Europe and offers it to the people in town for no cost.
As we walked through the building, we came to a gymnasium where the youth group was playing volleyball. The pastor told me they were preparing for a community outreach to the teens and children in the city. They would personally deliver food, clothing, water, hope, and the love of Jesus. I was so moved that I decided I would find a sporting goods store and buy a matching blue, yellow, and white volleyball (Ukrainian colors) so that every time I see it, I am reminded of Pastor Oleksandr, his family, the youth group, and their impact in their city. That volleyball is my prized souvenir.
As we were driving back towards Poltava, suddenly Igor stepped on the gas and went much faster. He explained that he received a text alert that missiles and drones were coming into the area, and that everyone should find shelter or leave as fast as possible. Sofiya in the back seat exclaimed, “Look!” I looked out the window and about two hundred yards to my right was an explosion. Whatever it hit was quickly burning to the ground. “See those cars out in that field?” Igor asked. Those are Ukrainian drone operators who are shooting Russian missiles and drones out of the sky.” He drove a little faster. We had dinner in Kharkiv on the way home.
The next day, I taught at the seminary in Poltava. I got to check on Sharon, who was doing fine. She loves teaching and preaching, and said it was going very well. Then Igor asked if I’d be willing to go up to Kyiv. We left early the next morning. Sofiya sang and then interpreted for me as I spoke to a group of about a hundred chaplains and pastors.
When Friday afternoon came, we had an end-of-class celebration and ceremony with hugs, handshakes, and fist bumps as the chaplains prepared to go back to their soldiers fighting the war. Igor asked me, “Are you ready to go to Dnipro tomorrow? There’s a group of government representatives and community leaders who meet on Saturday to discuss the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, and I’ve cleared it for you to be our speaker.” Sofiya sang, then I spoke on the need for the entire community to work together to rebuild and heal the land, the institutions, and the people. I told them that a community-wide response would be essential for the post-war reconstruction and healing, and that the community-wide response necessarily includes pastors and congregations because they have a built-in network with so much to offer. Then we had lunch with several dignitaries before returning for one more night in Poltava.
That night, I turned out my light and was not yet asleep when I heard an explosion. Then there were several more. I thought to myself, “The blasts seem to be about two miles away.” I went out to the hall, and people were going down the stairs to the shelter. Sofiya came out of her room and told me she had talked to Igor, who said there were five explosions about three kilometers from the hotel. There were no human casualties. He texted me and asked if I wanted him to take us up to Kyiv immediately. But by then, we received the “all-clear” message so I decided to wait until morning, as originally planned. Sofiya and I did go down to the shelter for about half an hour, mostly out of curiosity on my part. I wanted to see it.
Our train was leaving late Sunday night, so Igor had arranged to be our tour guide for some sightseeing in the capital city. It was beautiful. I got some great pictures. The war seemed so far away and life went on as usual. Sofiya had grown up in Ukraine, and the church she attended twenty-some years ago was just a few blocks from where we parked. She walked over to the church and met with some friends. When Sharon and I got on the train that night, Sofiya stayed in Kyiv to visit family and friends a little longer.
I felt like I was leaving part of my heart in Ukraine. Either that, or my heart was starting to turn blue and yellow, the colors of the flag. As I returned to America, I reflected on the new relationships I had with Igor and his family, with Pastor Oleksandr, whose church was making a difference in their community, with the many pastors and chaplains I had interacted with, and with the military leaders I had met. And I wonder: what does the Lord have in mind for the future. Will there be an open door for further involvement? I hope so.
The leadership at the seminary, the churches, and the military have asked me to return. Igor wants me to help by teaching and developing curriculum at the seminary. The military asked me to help shape some courses for the National Military Academy. They want to know if my book on military ministry can be translated into Ukrainian so they can model their programs after it. And they inquired about the possibility of my overseeing a sequel focusing on chaplaincy in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Several pastors invited me to come back and preach in their churches. And I already feel called to encourage and train pastors and chaplains.
But I am keenly aware that this was only possible because of the kindness and generosity of some wonderful people and churches who supported this project.
Pastor Phil Schneider is the Superintendent of the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God, where my wife and I are ordained and serve in ministry. Pastor Phil has been very supportive and directed his staff to provide assistance. The media director created and edited the video introducing the project. The business administration staff set up the account for tax deductible donations.
Several churches allowed me to give a presentation to the congregation. These include Hobson Road Community Church in Downers Grove, IL; Trinity Assembly in Sharpsburg, GA; and The Grove Community Church in Altona, IL.
Two organizations that gave generously to this project were the Mark and Rachel Bailey Charitable Fund and P & L Publishing & Literary Services. In addition, many friends and family gave through the spotfund campaign or sent money directly to the IDCAG account.
I want to thank all of you for your kindness. Thank you for praying. Thank you for your love and friendship. Thank you for making it possible for me to go, to have this experience, to make a difference for people in some pretty scary circumstances. Together, we made an impact on behalf of the Lord and his church.
The colors of the Ukrainian flag represent blue sky and golden wheat. As we were driving one day, Igor stopped so I could take this picture
In warm, tropical areas of the earth, a caterpillar might emerge from the egg just two days after it was placed on the host plant, but in the colder, northern parts of the world, such as in the Arctic regions, it takes longer. The variations of time often have to do with the temperature. But if it survives, whether a caterpillar was in the egg 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months, the end result is the same. A voraciously hungry caterpillar bites and claws its way out and starts eating whatever suitable vegetation it can find so it can build up the bulk and stamina it’s going to need later on.
There’s an important lesson here for Butterfly Believers who live in an era of instant gratification. When we want something, we usually want it right now. But spiritual growth takes time. Personal maturity requires many years. Building a lasting relationship, whether with another person or with God, doesn’t happen instantly. So we have to be patient, persistent, and faithful.
Every college football player has the dream of getting into the NFL and being a smashing success right from the beginning of the rookie year: starting every game, being in the playoffs, winning the championship, making big money, receiving the MVP trophy, everything. The reality is that it takes most players several years to reach their peak. After years of working hard, maybe with a couple of injuries and failures, they finally get to the place of consistent, high-level performance . . . if they last long enough in the league.
The same is true in our walk with the Lord. We have high hopes. We want to be mature and spiritually deep. We feel an urgency to participate in ministry. But the sometimes-painful truth is that we might not be ready for that yet, which is why James said Not many of you should become teachers (James 3:1) and Paul wrote that a leader in the Kingdom of God must not be a recent convert (1 Timothy 3:6).
There’s another reason for being patient. When we try to rush the process, we tend to set ourselves up for failure or disillusionment, and this can be devastating, leading many to drop out of church or give up the faith entirely.
In the same way caterpillars have to be patient and hatch at the right time, and just like athletes have to develop skills over time and earn a starting spot on the team, Butterfly Believers will focus on the Lord, allow spiritually mature brothers and sisters to provide discipleship and mentoring, not pretend to be more mature than they really are, and not try to take on leadership responsibilities too soon.
The above is an excerpt from Butterfly Believers, one of several books that may be perfect for individual reading or group discussion. My wife (Linda) put together this jigsaw puzzle that shows a variety of mature butterflies.
Some men tried to set a trap for Jesus one day by asking him a trick question. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar? They expected a simple yes/no, either/or answer that would force him into a corner and get him into trouble with either the Roman authorities or the Jewish leaders. It would be a win/win for them and a lose/lose for him. But as he often did, Jesus had an interesting reply . . . Show Me the Money!
“Show Me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought Him a denarius.
“Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them.
“Caesar’s,” they said to Him.
Then He said to them,
“Therefore give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,
and to God the things that are God’s”
(Matthew 22:19-22).
In answering their question, Jesus avoided the obvious either/or, and totally reframed the dilemma. In the eternal scheme of things, it doesn’t matter who you pay taxes to. The real issue is whose likeness is on the coin and whose picture is on you as a person because the image shows the identity of the owner. Since Caesar’s picture is on the denarius, go ahead and return it to him. It belongs to him. Likewise, because God’s image is on you, he claims ownership of your life, so give back to the Lord what is rightfully his. You belong to him.
Jesus’s reply turned the tables on them because they were the spiritual leaders who were supposed to understand the scriptures. They were the ones who claimed to have the image of God. Yet in reality, they were far from God.
Give back to Caesar what already belongs to him,
and give back to the Lord what already belongs to him.
An adult insect is officially called an imago, which means image or picture. This is the stage the butterfly looks its best, is fully developed, and fulfills its purpose. This is the stage that has captured the imagination of people around the world since the beginning of history. And this is where our discussion of the butterfly life cycle comes to a crescendo.
The butterfly is a wonderful analogy of the spiritual growth among Christians because metamorphosis means transformation, and the gradual changes from one stage to the next are so appropriate for a discussion of the changes that take place in our lives. But another fantastic part of the story is that the mature or perfect form of the adult butterfly is called an imago. This is a powerful reminder that every Butterfly Believer was fashioned in the Image of God. Theologians refer to this by using the Latin phrase, Imago Dei.
His image, his likeness, his stamp of ownership is indelibly printed on our soul, our very being, and we have chosen to give ourselves back to him. This is what we were created for. This is our reason for being. This is what empowers us to reach our highest level of existence. This is what we were designed for.
No matter who you are, where you are from, whether you are male or female, or what you look like, you are made in the Image of God and there’s nobody in the world more important or more valuable than you. You are free to be yourself, free to pursue your dreams, free to express yourself, and free to fly. And in that freedom, you can liberate others to do the same. You are a Butterfly Believer. And you are beautiful.
This is an excerpt from Paul Linzey’s book, Butterfly Believers, which is available on this website and on Amazon. It is perfect for home group or Bible study discussion or for personal devotional reading.
Even though butterfly eggs are glued securely to the plant, they are quite vulnerable. If the weather is too cold or too dry, they won’t survive. They are often eaten by birds, snails, spiders, other insects, and reptiles. Grazing animals sometimes eat the leaves the eggs were laid on.
One of the worst problems is that microscopic wasps get into the butterfly eggs and eat the yolk. Sometimes, the eggs are laid never having been fertilized. When this happens, the eggs will dry out and rot. As you can see, there are many dangers awaiting the butterfly eggs, which is why the vast majority will not survive and make it to the next stage. Who knew?
But butterfly eggs aren’t the only creatures whose survival is in jeopardy. Baby Christians will also experience perilous times. Peter tells us to Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul writes in his letter to Timothy that many will fall into temptations and traps that plunge people into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 4:12). Perhaps the Lord himself described it best in his Parable of the Sower and the Seed.
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:1-23).
In the same way that butterfly eggs have a tough time making it to the next level, Butterfly Believers also have a tough time surviving temptations, distractions, the devil, the cares and concerns of life, deception, lack of depth, or having no roots. St. Paul would add false teachers and persecution to the list. Hebrews would suggest that there are sins that entangle us and may jeopardize our walk with the Lord.
On the other hand, there is a purpose in our struggles. James reminds us to Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
Mature and complete. Not lacking anything. Strong enough to endure whatever we face. That’s what the Lord has in mind for us. He has given us his spirit for strength, guidance, and inspiration. He also places people in our lives to encourage and mentor us. We have what it takes to make it. No wonder James can tell us to be joyful. But we still have to go through the storms and struggles.
This is what the people of God experienced during the tough days after they returned from the Babylonian captivity and started rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. They faced all sorts of difficulties. Yet, Nehemiah could stand up and proclaim to the people, The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And he was right.
This is an excerpt from the book, Butterfly Believers, available on this website or from Amazon. The book is perfect for a personal 40-day devotional, but also an excellent resource for a class or home group discussion. A lot of people have given it as a gift. The photo below was taken and graciously provided by Don Biadog, a retired Navy chaplain.
Whenever I take on a new activity, start playing a new game, or dig into researching a new topic, my natural desire is that I want to be good at it immediately. This is true whether playing Settlers of Catan the first time, taking trumpet lessons as a kid, or deciding later in life to get into table tennis. The problem is that learning any new skill, art, or subject matter takes time, even for those who seem to be naturally gifted. Some people pick up new skills rather quickly, while others take a bit longer.
This dynamic plays out at our house over and over again. We’ll hear about a new game from our kids or friends; we’ll buy the game and start playing it; my wife will catch on really fast and win the game every single time we play; I get discouraged and never want to play it again. But then I begin to understand the strategies, and start winning once in a while.
The same may be true for new believers. When we’re just getting started in the life of faith, we might not be very good at it yet. We continue in some of our old ways, making a few too many errors, and then we get discouraged and want to quit. But don’t give up, and don’t throw in the towel just yet, my friend. There’s hope for you. In the case of a butterfly, the goal at the start is to be a good egg. Being a good caterpillar will happen later. Eventually, you’ll have a chance at being a great butterfly.
The first noticeable change that happens to a butterfly egg is that a few days after being deposited, it starts to change color.
Many eggs start out light colored like an off-white to a yellow color then change to a dark color or black before the caterpillar comes out. Most caterpillars hatch out of the eggs in 3-7 days. It can vary depending on species and other conditions.
Green or blue eggs may also turn gradually darker, and if you were to look at the eggs through a microscope at just the right time, you’d be able to see the tiny caterpillars starting to develop.
The butterfly life cycle is one of complete transformation . . . in every stage . . . in every part of every stage . . . all the way to the end of its existence. It never stays the same. It’s always changing in some way. Sometimes the changes are easily observable. But sometimes you might not even know the change is happening because it’s subtle . . . or invisible.
This is helpful for us to keep in mind as disciples of Jesus Christ. Change takes time. Learning is incremental. Like Bill Murray’s character in the movie What About Bob, we start with baby steps.
So hang in there. Don’t give up the faith or let go of your commitment to Christ. Don’t quit the church. It may be that the changes are happening at the invisible level right now, and in just a few days you’ll be ready to hatch and become a caterpillar. And then a whole new existence begins.
As the apostle writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, We all are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. First steps are always tricky for butterflies, puppies, and people.
The above is an excerpt from my book Butterfly Believers, which can be found on Amazon.com or on this website.
The average female butterfly will deposit from one hundred to three hundred eggs, some will produce as few as a dozen, and others more than a thousand. Some butterflies will place the eggs on the leaf one at a time. Others will deposit a group or a cluster of eggs, stacking them neatly, one on top of another. Still others will release a mass of eggs in a pile. Whatever method the butterfly uses, she will glue them onto the leaf, stem, or flower to make sure they won’t come off. The glue is so strong that it’s impossible to remove the egg without destroying the creature inside.
There are two similarities to Butterfly Believers I’d like to point out here. First, in the same way some eggs are laid one at a time and others are piled or grouped in a mass, some people come to faith in Christ individually while others are part of a large gathering where there may be hundreds who respond to the gospel at the same time.
The other similarity has to do with the church or fellowship we choose to attend. Some people live in a place where there is no church or congregation, so they worship, read the scriptures, and pray all by themselves. Many people around the world attend small churches of anywhere from ten people to fifty or sixty. And a lot of people prefer what may be called a megachurch, which may have hundreds or thousands gathering at the same time and place.
I met one man who dreamed that he met Jesus. That dream led him to “count the cost” and commit his life to Christ, even though he lived in a place where there was serious persecution. The expression “count the cost” comes from Luke 14:28, where Jesus said to a large crowd:
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it? Later, when talking to his disciples, he told them, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny the self, take up his or her cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24).
I was six years old when my mother took our family to a camp meeting in a revival tent. Listening to the preacher, I understood for the first time that Jesus went to the cross for my sins. I turned to my brother and said, “I’m going up to get saved,” and he replied, “Me too!” We ran up the center aisle, around to the wooden benches behind the platform, and knelt until someone came and prayed with us. I don’t remember if there was anyone else praying to receive Christ as Lord and Savior that night, but there were at least two of us.
Years later, I attended several Billy Graham rallies in huge stadiums. When Dr. Graham gave a salvation altar call, literally hundreds of people left their seats, found their way to the ball field below, and en masse, committed their lives to Jesus Christ. It was an individual decision each person had to make, but it happened in a much larger setting than my boyhood experience or the man who had the dream.
There are many ways to come to and participate in the body of Christ. Size or numbers isn’t the point. What matters is devotion to the Lord, growing in your faith, and recognizing that you are part of the family of God.
This is an excerpt from the book, Butterfly Believers, a collection of devotional readings based on Romans 12:2 and butterfly metamorphosis. Paul Linzey is a former pastor & military chaplain, now teaching Spiritual Formation and Practical Ministry at Called College & North Central University.
Paul Linzey 