Changed?

Things need to be changed. Light bulbs, tires, oil, diapers…there are things that every now and then need changing.  Some need change more often while others require it less frequently.

I have been thinking a lot about this idea of “change” lately.  Specifically the change that takes place in a life that has encountered the truth of Jesus.  Look at what Paul says about change in the following verse.

Galatians 6:15

“…what counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”

I think many times we try to change the “issues” on the outside without first dealing with the change we need - and can only come through Christ - on the inside.  But if we are simply trying to fix external actions and not striving for inward transformation, we are simply trying to deal with the symptom of the issue and not the root and the cause.

I remember being young and having to go into the back yard and pull weeds.  It is every kids greatest fear!  In order to make it go fast, I would simply just rip the heads off of the weeds (the “symptom” of why I had to weed in the first place).  The problem with this is only a few days later all the weeds had grown back.  And that meant that I quickly found myself in the backyard pulling weeds AGAIN.  Here was the problem: i wasn’t getting the roots out.

So often it is easier to address the external symptoms in life.  That is what Paul was addressing with the Galatians.  They were tempted to go back to doing the “external” things instead of walking by faith in the grace that brings the transformation that we really need.

If there is something in your life that needs change, don’t just try and deal with the external symptoms or issues.  Allow yourself to be changed into a new and different person as Jesus begins that transforming work on the inside.  You can’t make it happen in your own power (works).  If you try, you will find yourself “going at it” again and again without effectiveness, much like myself in the backyard ripping the tops off of the weeds.  His grace is what will bring the transformation that you need.