Change…

The circles in which I run often ask the question, “How do you help someone change?”.  Many have posed answers.  Many write case studies about effective ways to see life change happen.  Jay Adams wrote a whole book on it, and his conclusion could be summed up with just a few words.  We can’t, but God can.  He says that scripture can invoke change in someone.   While I disagree with many of his ways of dealing with people, some things are undeniable.  Gaining a new perspective can help someone change, as can significant events.  Ultimately though, if we are going to see substantial life change, it will happen as a result of God intervening.  It may be a loss or a crash or even a birth.  Regardless of the catalyst for the change, in time we will fall back into our old ways if we do not find ways to keep the new perspective that we have.

 I am holy.  This has been the most difficult thing in my life to accept. This is not a result of anything that I have accomplished, but is a reality that has become me because I have given away my right to this life and given control of my dreams, purpose and even vision over to the only one who is Holy without the work of another.  My perspective changed drastically as a result of this understanding. At first I was angry.  Then I was overwhelmed with sadness and ultimately I worshiped.  Change happened when I owned the gift of the scripture and what it has to say about me.  

So, the question for me is not how to help people change, but how to help them live in the reality that they are holy.  Peter told us that we need to be holy because God is holy.  If I understand that I am holy, I will change the things in my life that are not holy.  If I don’t I get eaten up inside by my own hypocrisy.  As we all know, that is not a pretty thing. Who loves a hypocrite?  God does, and I am so thankful.