No longer all that strong

Yesterday we began to look at embracing change before it becomes a requirement to change. While we all know we resist change in various ways, we ALL resist it sometimes. The more comfortable we become with some choice we are making, the easier it is for us to make that choice time and time again. The more we desire to change that choice, the harder it can become. Hence, we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us embrace change. Good change is encouraged - change that still leaves us somewhere short of the 'bullseye' in a spiritual sense just isn't cutting it. Change to be like Jesus - don't change to be like the world around you!

Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Knowing what is good is probably easier than we might think since we are given lots of examples in scripture, have the Holy Spirit to help guide our conscience, and even have God's Word to help us sort out good from bad. Choosing to do good all of the time isn't easy because we have this little thing called the 'will' that gets in the way at times. We struggle at the level of our 'willpower' so many times. We somehow think our own power will be enough to bring about right choices, but then we find ourselves falling somewhere short of those right choices.

The human will is not sufficient to resist temptation, though. Try as we might, we somehow choose things that make us 'feel good' but may not be the lasting kind of 'good feeling' that comes when we make a choice to live in obedience to the revealed will of God. Like it or not, life on this earth will always involve a struggle between our will (influenced by the things this world says will be 'good' for us) and God's will (bringing us out of this world's pursuits and into the pursuits of his Kingdom life). Willpower seldom produces 'internal' change - it is temporary, usually influenced by our feelings, and is often produces some other form of conflict within us.

God's will isn't just going to one day 'manifest' in our lives. We must make active choices to resist the things that are temporary or fleeting and choose rather to pursue that which remains, is well-founded, and has a transformational aspect - the things God offers through is Son, Jesus Christ. Living in a way that actually 'craves' internal change in the areas of our character that don't actually help us make right choices is not for the 'strong willed'. In fact, those who are willing to admit their will is weak are those God can transform the easiest! Just sayin!

Transformation and Renewal - We Need Both

This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you... Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect (mature) in their relationship to Christ. (Colossians 1:26-28)

The message is clear - God wants us in his family. There are unrealized riches awaiting all those who say yes to Jesus. Because Christ lives in us, all that Christ possesses - his riches and glory - are shared by those who enter into this relationship. The more we hear this message, the more it should strike a chord within our hearts that reminds us just how much we are loved. We could have been abandoned to our sin, but God chose to give us the very thing that would cause sin to relinquish its control over our lives - Christ's power and presence. Both lead to us having perfect peace that passes all understanding.

Sometimes we need a warning, while at other times we are quite open to whatever wisdom God gives. Why? There are times when we just move headlong toward the things that will lead us into bondage of some kind, all the while knowing in our minds that it isn't good to go that direction. We might not realize it, but God wants us to embrace his teaching, heed his warnings, and step into his peace more than anything else. Why? We move away from sin and closer to his heart whenever we do.

The message is written in our hearts at the point of salvation - a message meant to be shared, not so much in words as in renewed (different) actions. We might not see ourselves changing, but little by little, his Word is transforming us and his power is renewing us. Our choices are changing. Our attitude is adjusted so that others see something of Jesus in us. Transformation is both immediate, while renewal is ongoing. Remain in Christ and you will see both the transformation and the renewal. Just saying!

Open to change

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter. 

(William James)

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 6:14-15)

What will you be when you grow up? Do you remember being asked that question so many times as a kid? I have been asked that question several times as an adult, so I guess I haven't 'grown up' sufficiently for some! I have a different way to ask this question today: What will you be when Christ is fully done with you?

Each and every day is another opportunity for Christ to work within our lives - transforming us into this 'new creation' he has in mind for each of us. As he moves across our lives, we are transformed, renewed, and almost 're-engineered'. We may still see ourselves one way, but God sees us as becoming exactly as we are in his eyes. It is this transformation process that we often resist - not because we don't want to see this new creation, but because all change is hard.

While Mr. James was a philosopher of sorts, his words ring true to each of us. We begin today to be what we will become tomorrow. All of life is about change. As I am now in the sixth decade of my life, I would say change comes rapidly at times. When I was in my second decade of life, I would have told you change didn't happen fast enough. Why is there such a difference? I guess it is because I have become much more 'accustomed' to change.

Instead of resisting what God is doing, might you choose to embrace it? It could just be the door that opens to becoming what we will be. We are 'made right' through Christ, but each day presents opportunities for us to begin to 'be right' (live right). We cannot ignore that all of life presents change - we must be open to God's leading when 'what we are becoming' is his main focus for us today. Just sayin!