Knowing How Things Change
[Some day I’ll preach a sermon (series) on this subject, but in the mean-time, here are some things I'm reflecting on... ]
We’ve been reflecting on how Jesus and the Gospel-message about Him will change everything in our lives.
First, our WHY changes: WHY do we do what we do? Questions of motives, ambitions, desires, and identity, significance, and meaning, are all answered differently. All the Big Questions change—so everything changes.
Second, our HOW will changes too: HOW we go about doing what we do. Our demeanor, our vibe, our outlook—HOW people experience us—everything we do is shaped by the manner with which—HOW—we do it. So everything is changed.
Lastly, WHAT we do also changes. WHAT I do today will change—my tasks and all the toil of daily existence. But so too will change WHAT I want to do with my life—my goals and all the energy of my ambitions. From the daily grind to the final finish line, the title of my story and the entire map of life my life are changed by Jesus.
What I want to encourage you with, in conclusion, is this:
Friends, this is not just true, but it’s also helpful.
If you want to change something in your life, don’t start with WHAT, start with WHY.
What’s is going on in your heart? What are your motives, your hopes, your prayers? What are your values?
So, for example, if I try to have a better life by getting a better…
[job or spouse or more money or a big move or a promotion or an award or fitness accomplishment or any other WHAT…]
…then what I’ll find is that I bring my original discontentedness with me wherever I go.
Whatever thing I thought would make life good… It will never be enough. It was, of course, never supposed to be enough. Only the gift of God through Christ in the Spirit “fills” us.
Similarly, we can’t change our lives by working on our HOW—it all starts with WHY.
So, for example, if I try to have a better life by trying to change my attitude…
[practicing gratitude or stillness, or affirmations, or never letting myself think critical or ungrateful thoughts, or always trying to say please and thank-you, or always trying to agree with everyone, or any other HOW…]
…then I’ll find that there’s a weakness in my soul that cannot sustain this attitude or mindset.
I just can't do it in my own strength of mind or will. True optimism only comes from true theology. Real optimism grows from hope in the God of the Bible, His proven reliability and goodness.
The modern world wants to assure us that “all we need” is a change of scene or a new outlook—and that by purchasing their products or experiences, we'll obtain the life-transforming power we need. The world says, You need a change of WHAT! Or, if that doesn’t work, You really need to change your HOW!
But the Bible says, “create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right spirit within me.” (Psa 51:6)
The Bible says, “But you were dead in your sins… but God, being rich in mercy, has made you alive together with Christ.” (Eph 2:1, 4)
The Bible says, “the love of God is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.” (Rom 5:5)
The Bible says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!” (1Jo 3:1)
The Bible starts with WHY. Because WHYs change HOWs, which changes all our WHATs.
Our WHY must change. Jesus changes our WHY. Jesus fills all the holes, the low places, the broken spots.
So HOW we live can change too. Jesus can change the HOW of our lives. Jesus works from the inside out, redeeming and renewing what currently exists.
And then—wait for it!—WHAT we do will change. Sometimes in small ways, sometimes in big ways, always in some ways. Jesus changes WHAT is in our lives, WHAT we do in the living of our lives, and WHAT we do with our lives.
Jesus changes everything.
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible and inexhaustible Gift: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord God, I'll be honest: I'm not always sure I want to change! Or the changes I want in my life are those superficial changes that the world values, or the changes I want in my life are things I just want to be able to do by myself, by my will-power.
But to admit that I do need change, and that the change I need I cannot do, is hard.
But here I am, admitting it.
Create in me a clean heart, O Father; renew a right spirit within me. Pour into my heart Your love, Dear Spirit; wash me with the water of the Word, O Christ. You have made me alive together with Christ and called me Your child, O God. Restore to me the joy of this salvation and uphold me--as Your Spirit transforms my life from one degree of glory to another--uphold me with a willing spirit.
Jesus, change everything. If it was anyone but You, I'd be (more) worried and reluctant. But knowing that the Shepherd who calls me and leads me, is the Savior who loves me and gave Himself for me, frees me to trust, to follow, to hope, to try.
Thank you, LORD--in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Photo by Rolands Varsbergs on Unsplash