The Power of Change: Have You Tried It?
Why real spiritual growth requires more than good intentions.
Wisdom Scripture
Daniel 1:20 (NIV)
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
Wisdom Quote
Wisdom is a capacity of the mind; in the Old Testament it involves both knowledge and the ability to direct the mind toward a full understanding of human life and toward its moral fulfillment. Wisdom is thus a special capacity, necessary for full human living, but one which can be acquired through education and the application of the mind.¹
Insights: Have You Tried It?
The moment you trust in Jesus, you are united with Him. He lives in you, and you live in Him—like a branch living as part of a vine. Union with Jesus empowers you to grow in Christlikeness. Because Jesus lives in you, you can be confident that He will lead you toward godly character. You are not alone.
Your growth in godliness is not a mere self-improvement project. You can be confident that change is possible because the Spirit lives in you and you are united with Jesus. Transformation happens by God’s power—but He calls us to seek it.
Knowing that God has saved you by His grace, you respond by pressing forward and training yourself in godliness to build your character. Because you trust that He is at work for you, you can work hard to grow, confident that real change is possible in Christ.
What might it look like for you to work hard on your character without that effort becoming a merely human, self-help enterprise? How do you “train” for godliness, one character trait at a time?
G. K. Chesterton famously said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” In my experience, many American suburban Christians put little effort into developing the character of Christ. They leave Jesus’ way of life largely untried.
The Apostle Paul challenges us to train for godliness—to labor and strive, to press on to know Christ. Using vivid analogies, he calls us to fight and to run spiritually.
Are you intentionally working hard to become more like Jesus?
Footnotes
¹ Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Wisdom, Wisdom Literature.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, 1988, p. 2149.
