“Pastor, pray that …” and what follows is often a request for some change in life. I should not say this, but often my prayer is tinged with a suspicion that nothing will come of our entreaty. Why? Do I doubt God’s power? Not at all. The Spirit of God does transform the human heart, but not without some cooperation on our part. What produces my doubt is the knowledge that many people want God to do a magic trick for them. They seek to own the treasure of faith and/or character without any effort on their part. In those moments I feel like the alchemists of old of whom kings demanded lead turned into gold!
In the story of Joseph there is a little line that made me smile as I read it today. After his glorious reunion with his brothers, after the Pharaoh loaded them up with money and an invitation to come back and live on the ‘best of all Egypt,’ Joseph sent them away with this caution: as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” (Genesis 45:24, NIV) Their actions over the previous several months as he had tested them revealed they were still selfish, sinful men!
They had grown older but they had not matured into wise men spiritually! How sad, but too often true of so many of us. Joseph, by contrast, had lived through terrible testing, the kind of experiences that destroy most people, and emerged with a stellar character, amazing wisdom, and deep faith.
Disciple are you just growing older in the faith or are you growing deeper and stronger, too? A long record of church attendance is no indicator of spiritual maturity. Are you still dealing with the same sins and habits that you wrestled with 20 years ago? Are you still crying out to God for a magic trick of deliverance, instead of working with Him for deep transformation of character into a person of steady faith, integrity, and humility?
The twin rails of spiritual change are prayer and practical choices! Without the intervention of Christ and the power of the Spirit, we remain in our sin, slaves- the Bible says – of a sinful nature that cannot change! So pray and accept the freedom provided by Jesus. And then, make the choices necessary. “Choose today whom you will serve,” was the challenge put before God’s people by an old man named Joshua whose life was a model of faithfulness for them.
Meditate for a few moments on this passage. Then, let God defeat the persistence of sin in your nature revealing the nature of Christ in you.
"Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:1-5, NLT)
___________
Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.
Change My Heart Oh God
Espinosa, Eddie
© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
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