Why are some Christians more loving to others, dedicated to the things of God, consistent and faithful, generous, kind? Why are God's purposes and holiness so evident in some and invisible in others?
It's not personality! Sometimes you'll hear somebody excuse their continuing lack of spiritual growth by saying, "I'm just not that kind of person. It's harder for me." That excuse makes me smile. What is 'that kind of person?' Is there really a personality profile for better Christians. Of course not!
It's not just training. Certainly having good teachers and models helps us grow in grace, but there are those who grew up in godless homes, who attend churches where the teaching is abysmal, who become wonderful Christians.
Great Christians are made that way by the work of the Holy Spirit. "Ah," you say, "It isn't up to me, so if God wants me to become a holy, kind, loving, gentle, faithful Believer, then it will happen." True, yet not true. It is true that you and I cannot rid ourselves of traits of Adam's nature. No amount of guilt, punishment, or regulation of our behavior can produce the character of Christ in us. Most of us have tried to be better people, time and again, and ultimately failed. We succeed for a while, then we fail and the sense of guilt only deepens. God works in us to bring us the knowledge that we can live better than we do and of our failure to be who He wants us to be - in the circumstances of life, by letting us see His work in another person, by allowing tragedy to enter our lives, and many other ways. He stimulates our appetite for Himself in the most curious ways.
Creating spiritual hunger in us is God's part! How we satisfy that hunger is our choice! Too often we temporarily fill the hunger with something other than God and there are plenty of things are offered that will supposedly satisfy our needs. Ever hear the phrase, you are what you eat? Spiritually, it is true.
Yesterday I felt hungry, but I didn't feel like making a salad, or preparing a meal, so I reached for a bowl of potato chips. They were good, full of oils and salty, and - for the moment - made my hunger disappear temporarily. But, the 'junk food' did not satisfy the way a good balanced meal would. Similarly, we can temporarily turn off the sensations of our "God-hunger" with pleasure, success, materialism, sensual stimulation, achievements, and such things. These things are not necessarily evil but they are not meals that satisfy the soul. A steady diet of Desperate Housewives (a current TV hit in case you didn't know), overspending to own more things, or even reading religious books and/or watching Christian TV (an oxymoron, I think) will never make a strong Believer who is full of the Spirit and Wholesomeness of God.
But, if we will turn to God, and open up our lives to His Presence, He will feed us with real food for the soul. Jesus talked of this food saying, "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:33-35, NKJV) As He feeds us, there will be a genuine transformation of character.
If we what to be changed from the inside out, we need to eat the True Bread offered to us. What does that mean?
It means responding to those inner promptings and obeying God. It means setting aside time to pray and meditate that allows His Message to penetrate deeply into us. It means forming close ties with others who are real seekers so we are encouraged. "Jerry, that sounds a lot like doing things to change myself." If self-improvement is your motive, genuine transformation will not occur. If feeding your soul hunger with God is your motive, then change is inevitable! Jesus promised, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6, NIV) The Message, a contemporary translation says, “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat." (Matthew 5:6, The Message)
Colossians points out the inter-play between God's provision for our transformation and our responsibility for creating opportunities for it to take place. Take this thought with you today....
"... your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ... So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. ... you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.
In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. ...
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ... And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. ... And always be thankful.
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. ...
Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:3-17, NLT)
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