HE CAME... TO BRING CHANGE
How many people does it take to change a light bulb?
CHANGE??!!
The idea itself is repulsive to many. Everything from changing jobs to changing brands of cereal can be a source of fear and frustration!
But one of the reasons Jesus came to earth, was to bring CHANGE. Significant spiritual transformations like…
- Moving us from the bondage of sin to freedom
- Transferring us from darkness to light
- Relocating us from the kingdom of satan to the Kingdom of God
- Transporting us from dead in sin to alive in Christ
- Releasing us from wrath to be children of God
God designed the above changes. He also initiates them, provides the power to make them happen and He supplies the encouragement and strength to assure they are maintained. That’s what Philippians 1:6 is teaching us… “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
And those supernatural changes show up in how we live out each day. We are new people! We are different! We are revamped! Not what we used to be, doing what we used to do… but becoming what we thought we never could be, doing what we thought we never could do.
AND IT HAS SUCH PRACTICAL PAYOFFS…
- It forces us to rethink what’s important in life
- It impacts how we treat our spouse
- It reshapes what we do with our money
- It changes our language
- It alters how we use our time
- It reduces our tendency to worry
- It quiets our heart when trouble appears
- It empowers us to handle conflict appropriately
Colossians 3:5-8, (NIV)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
The lyrics from “Why,” a song by Big Daddy Weave
"A transformation that happens over time, is the product of a renewed mind
Create in me a clean heart, place Your spirit deep inside
Capture every thought ‘Til there’s no place left to hide
Why do I do all the things that I do, when I want to do what is right
Change my heart renew my mind, let me walk with you in the new life"