Help for Change

As He Who called you is holy,You also be holy in your conduct, 

because it is written,“Be holy as I am holy”

(1 Peter 1:16)

A few days ago we looked at how Jesus stands at the heart’s door, knocking, wanting to come in, bringing forgiveness of sin and new life in the inner (spiritual) being.  Jesus referred to this as being “born again.”  Scripture assures us that this new life, often referred to as “being saved,” is eternal and nothing nor anyone can take it away:

I give them eternal life, and they shall not perish; 

neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  

My Father, Who has given them to Me, 

is greater than all and no one is able to 

snatch them out of My Father’s hand

(John 10:28-29)

So it is that nothing done in the outer (physical) body brings about new birth (salvation), and nothing done in the physical body will cause us to lose that salvation.  Does that mean it doesn’t matter what we do in the physical realm of life?  No.  Scripture instructs us otherwise:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you

 present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 

which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable

and perfect will of God

(Romans 12:1-2)

So we see that while actions in the physical sense do not bring about salvation nor take it away, the lifestyle of a born again person is of vital importance to the ongoing growth and fellowship with Christ.

Just as God instructs earthly children to love, honor, respect, and appreciate their parents, God’s children owe Him the same reverence for all He has done and continues to do for us.

In the way that human babies grow and change, so God’s children are expected to do so.  As we read, and take to heart, the instructions we find in God’s Word, the Bible, we recognize the changes that need to be made.

The good news is that we don’t have to make these changes by ourselves.  We have the Holy Spirit Who came to live in us at the moment of salvation. His work is to assure us of the Father’s love, comfort us in our sorrows, direct our thinking to be more Christ-centered, encourage us in our struggles, and convict us of the changes needed to be more pleasing to God . In addition, He acts as our intercessor with God when we don’t know what we need to pray for:

The Spirit also helps us in our weakness. For we do not know 

what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes 

intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  

Now He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind of 

the Spirit is, because He makes intercessions for the saints

 {born-again believers} according to the will of God  

 (Romans 8:26-27. Insert mine)

Holy Spirit,
Show me the things You want me to know;
lead me where You deem best;
help me to learn truths You would show,
calm me when I am distressed.
Make me the person You know I can be,
even though I am unfit;
help me to feel You are working in me,
changing me bit-by-bit.

Glenda Collins Inman