The Strength to Change

Monday, July 9, 2018

Ephesians 4:17 & 24: Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ... and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 

The Radical Change
What does God want from us? Does He want us to continue the way we are going? Does God want us to continue to walk away from Him? Of course not. God wants us to walk with Him. In order for that to happen, a radical change in our lives needs to happen. We need to stop walking in the ways of the world. We need to let go of the sinful pleasures that people think are "okay" where God says, "NO!" There is a phrase that was once shared with me. It goes, "Bobbing along on the cosmic sea of life." I interpret that to mean, 'Do what ever feels good for you. All is good." God's point is this: if you want life and to live it fully, set aside the things of the world and live the that I have set up for you. Live a life of grace, mercy, peace, love, and service." 

How That Takes Place
ONLY God can make that change in you. God creates in us a tension. We first know that the ways of the world may lead to pleasure and "fun." Yet they don't lead to life. We begin to see that there is something more in life. We also begin to realize that God's life for us is the life that we're missing. That leads us to repentance and confession. We declare to God that the life we were living is missing the mark. We ask God to forgive us and point us in His direction.

The Life Change​
And when we believe that Jesus' death forgave our sins, that Jesus took away our sins and started us on the new path, we then put on the new person. This person is connected to God. Because of Jesus, we now have a life previously unavailable. We now have the life that God originally intended for us. And it is all because of Jesus and what He did. 

Is This What You Want?
Do you want this radical change in your life? Do you sense that something is missing? Then try this. Begin with prayer, asking God to redirect your life toward His. Tell God that you want the forgiveness of sins and new life given to you by Jesus. Ask God the Holy Spirit to renew your life and start you on God's road. Then contact me. We can talk about where you can go from there.