Anyone who has ever tried to change their outward appearance and get physically fit knows that it is hard work. Ask those who actually had success at the P90X! As hard as it is to change outwardly it might be harder to change inwardly, which according to God is more important:
"...The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
The bad news is we can't change!
Can you ever change and do what’s right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right. Jeremiah 13:23 CEV
The good news is we can be changed.
“Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God." John 3:6 CEV
Change is internal:
Recently my daughter planted her first garden. She prepared the soil then planted some seeds. Carrots, beans, and a raspberry bush.
Change began to happen underground. We could not see it happen, but the seed began to grow. Change for us happens first and foremost when we put faith in Jesus. It is the seed that begins to grow inside of us through the power of the Spirit.
“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. Titus 3:4-8 NLT
Change is intentional:
After my daughter planted the seeds she both fertilized and watered those seeds. If we are to really change we need to make a choice to cooperate with God to change. How do we do that? How do we water and fertilize the seed if you will?
Peter teaches us how:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV
Change is gradual:
When we become Christians we should not look for perfection but look for growth.
What should I be looking for to know whether I am growing and changing or not? The fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25
Godward fruit...love, joy, and peace
Outward fruit...patience, kindness, and goodness
Inward fruit...faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Author John Ortberg teaches us to ask yourself the following questions:
Am I growing more easily discouraged these days?
Am I growing more easily irritated these days?
These are great indicators of what is going inside of our hearts.
Change is inevitable:
If I am a Christ follower and if I am abiding in Christ change will happen. I will bear fruit. Jesus said:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4 NIV
As of today the beans and carrots are growing. We are looking forward to harvesting our little crop. The raspberry bush produced one little raspberry as well.
My prayer for all of us is that we through the power of the Spirit and the promise of the word would change and and become the people God intended us to be.
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