The same or different?

Do you ever feel like the only thing that remains constant in your life is change? You are probably not alone in this impression because change is all around us. We are expected to change sometimes at the drop of a hat, while other change is gradual and kind of creeps up on us without us really noticing the change has been occurring. Change comes in all shapes and sizes - ranging from crazy, radical change to the subtle changes of age. Change is merely the process of making something that was one way to no longer have the same form. I have to ask a question here - if that 'something' was left alone, would it truly not change? Even things 'left alone' in life will change over time. There will always be influencing factors that lead to change of some sort - maybe not immediately perceptible to the naked eye, but there has been change nonetheless. What would the content of our life be like if Jesus was not an active part of the change we experience in our life? What would the course of our life include if we were 'left alone' to be influenced only by our own desires and actions?

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. (Philippians 3:12-14)

The form of our lives - that which manifests what we are, what we hold to be true, and what we count as important in life - it would definitely change. If there is anything that brings quality to our life, creates a good attitude in our minds, or involves us in activities that are honoring and upright, we receive that from God through Jesus. The "form" of our lives is directly impacted by the one we embrace - just as a "mold" gives a certain structure to the content of that which is placed within it - so Jesus gives us content that differs from what was previously occupying that 'mold' of our lives. If we embrace Christ, the change we experience to our "form" is that of being made into his image - we become the manifestation of who he is.

The nature of our lives - the combination of all the qualities that belong to a person that are revealed in the tendencies we exhibit in the conduct of our lives - it would change because Christ adds new qualities that are not really part of our sinful nature (like the quality of grace). We often refer to our "nature" as our temperament - our disposition to certain things in life - the way we act or respond. Many times, we might find that our temperament is defined by our nurturing - if nurtured well, we tend to conduct our lives with a reasonable sense of good judgment; if nurtured poorly, we might not develop the same sense of responsible conduct. Jesus can take the sum total of our nurture (how we have been raised and what has influenced us most in life) and our nature (our internal make-up including our talents, skills, and tendencies) and transform them into that which consistently produces conduct that is fitting of a child of God. Without that transformation, we often struggle with the temperament we have formed over the years.

The content of our lives - content gives us significance - it fills us up and gives us something we can share with others that they will actually desire. When we feel we have little to offer in a situation, we feel "insignificant" - we see ourselves as lacking what will lend to the situation at hand, therefore we see our contribution as "worthless". The content of our lives is made up of what we have experienced, how we have interpreted those experiences, what we have learned, and what we have "unlearned". That said, if we have allowed "content" that is not quite "right" or truthful into our lives, we have probably established patterns of behavior that keep us feeling like we are insignificant. One thing I want us to understand - in Christ, we are made new - there is a 'significance' poured into our lives, but there is also an awareness of the extreme significance of our lives because it is a life Christ values. The old content is replaced with new - we take on Christ, and we put off the old patterns of behavior, the old patterns of thought, the old failures of our past. 

 
The future course of our lives is not always clear to us when we are constantly in a state of flux or change - when we asked Christ into our lives, we opened the door for change. We actually invited change to occur - not once, but consistently - it is a process of movement, not immobility. We asked for the influences of our past to be diminished, and the influences of our present to be affected deeply by the hope that we find in Christ alone. We invited the Holy Spirit into permanent residence within us - to direct the future course of our lives. Paul reminds us that he is fully aware of his imperfections  - he doesn't have it all together. He recognizes that his past had many things that needed to be changed - but he could not change the past, he could only allow his future to be changed. We get all wigged out by our past - because it influences our present form, nature, and even the content of life. BUT...the past is DONE. We now must look toward the future. That is where change really takes hold. Transformation is a work of the present and the future - not the past. Press toward that which will make you whole - don't hold onto that which will diminish you any further. Just sayin!

Patient persistence pierces through indifference...

Indifference is all around us.  I am a people watcher, so maybe I pick up on this a little more than someone who isn't.  Whether it is the casual disregard for someone's property exhibited when someone just drops their unwanted trash by the wayside without a care in the world, or the passing by of a motorist broken down on the side of the freeway - lack of concern and compassion is just part of what we see everyday.  Indifference is also the producing of "work" which only requires mediocre effort.  Anytime we don't give our "all" to a project, we can be guilty of being a little indifferent to the outcome, as well.  In this world, Christ called for his people to make a difference - to stand out, to be counted, and to be agents of change.  If you haven't guessed it by now, we have a hard job ahead of us!

Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.  (Proverbs 25:15 MSG)

Patient persistence is the antidote to indifference.  Now, if you struggle with ever wanting to just give up when things seem like they are too hard to break through, or people just don't want to listen to what you have to say, then you have probably come face-to-face with the desire to just throw in the towel and declare their is no use in trying anymore.  Persistence is the ability to continue with something, even in the face of resistance, and even after the resistance has been removed.  Patience is the ability to bear annoyances without retaliation, delays without explanation, pain without stumbling, provocation without getting in someone's face, and hardship without counting the cost too high to bear.  So, the antidote to indifference is us living in such a way that our lives speak of a "difference"!  Gentle speech is the antidote to the rigid defenses of those who resist our persistence!

I had to look up the synonyms for "patient" today because it is what I do - I like words and they inspire me, so I look them up!  Here's what I found:

- Uncomplaining: When things aren't going our way, or as easily as we might have hoped, it is quite easy to get into a little jag of complaining, isn't it? Why? It is human nature to want things to be easy and to regret or be frustrated when things are not. Yet, our reminder today is that if we want to conquer the indifference in our own lives so we can make a difference in the lives of others, we have to begin with curbing our desire to complain about all the things that are not "right" with our life!

- Long-suffering, Forbearing: We have an example of this in Christ's life, but since none of us is exactly like Christ at the moment, we sometimes struggle with enduring injury, trouble, and provocation for any length of time, or with the patience of a "saint".  The good news is that we are each Christ-like with the full potential to exhibit his example - we just need to tap into the potential we have been given.  Nothing will turn the heads of rulers and our fellow man quicker than one who is exhibiting long-suffering and forbearance (self-control).

- Resigned: Some might think of this as giving up, but I think this is the attitude of heart and mind which is set on doing the will of another (Christ). When we live in such a manner so as to reveal our life is not our own, but is fully under the control and influence of Christ Jesus, we show the power of submission.

- Calm, Unruffled, Unexcited, Composed: Patient persistence pierces through indifference simply because people don't know what to do with someone they cannot "ruffle".  All around us, people are seeking our "reaction" to what they say, do, or think.  What they see in us is this ability to remain on an "even keel" even in the face of some pretty rocky and rough circumstances.  This speaks volumes to those who might want to stir us up and make our lives a little topsy-turvy.

- Untiring: To continue without your strength or vigor being impacted is something most of us would love to do, but we all know how fickle our bodies are.  We want to go on, but they demand rest.  Our minds want to continue to work on something, but we suffer from mental exhaustion and our mental acuity begins to wane.  In the face of indifference, Christ gives us the sharpness of mental acuity and the soundness of body to exert our best efforts while under his control.

We deal with indifference by being willing to make a difference.  We answer the defenses of another with the gentleness of our speech.  Let's not forget we are here on this earth as agents of change - ambassadors of the message of reconciliation and hope.  We are here to encounter indifference and breakdown the rigidity of those who oppose the gospel.  Just sayin!