A HEART ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE
Discover The Importance of Change – While leaning on the One who never changes.
By Glenda Ward
McDowell County
As the months ahead bring us from summer vacations to the beginning of a new school year and the beginning of our fall season, amid all life’s changing events there is only one thing that remains constant in life. It is our ultimate leader who will never change. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
We are not to be carried away with varied and strange teachings of strange doctrines. It is good that the heart is established with grace. Some teachings were that of keeping the Old Testament ceremonial laws and rituals as being important for salvation. However, these laws were useless for overcoming a person’s evil thoughts and desires (see also Colossians 2:23). The laws could influence conduct, but they could not change the heart. Lasting changes in the conduct of a person begin when the Holy Spirit lives in each person’s heart. However, New Christians should not expect instant maturity in Christianity. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically have all good thoughts and attitudes when we first `become a new person in Christ. But, if we keep listening to God’s leadership and guidance, we will be changing all the time.
As you look over the last year, what changes for the better have you seen in your thought process and attitudes? Change may be slow, but your life will change significantly if you trust God to change your life. No keeping of laws or rules will earn you salvation. The Good News is that God reaches down to man and we respond. Man-made religions focus on human effort; Christianity focuses on Christ’s work. Our salvation depends on the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. Following a long list of religious rules can make a person appear moral, but religious rules cannot change a person’s heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. True Christian behavior – putting on the new nature by accepting Christ and regarding the old nature as dead; we change our moral and ethical behavior by letting Christ live within us so that He can shape us into what we should be. The Christian’s real home is where Christ lives (see John 14:2-3). We are to set our affection on things above and look at life from God’s perspective and seek what He desires. By seeking what God desires, we have the power to break free of our obsession with worldly pleasures.
Act now with a change in heart established with grace to be prepared for Christ’s return. Christ gives us the power to live for Him now, and He gives us hope for the future – He will return.
We are to remember that Christ is always the same and will judge every teaching according to the gospel of God’s Word. Jesus Christ is the anchor to our soul – the very One who secures for us the eternal hope of heaven and steadies us while the world seems to be on such shaky ground. As Christians, we should share our heartwarming and beautiful reflections on the steadfastness of Jesus Christ in our lives.
You are never alone – Jesus will never fail or desert you. Pray for an overwhelming sense of peace and confidence as you face changes that may come your way this season. Jesus is a steadfast companion, loyal and true, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
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Glenda Ward is a member of Grand View Baptist Church in McDowell County. She is the mother of five grown children. Glenda is a Christian writer/author of “Something to Think About” – weekly Christian Articles. She writes Church Programs & Bulletins, VBS Material, Christmas and Easter Programs; all material based on the KJV of the Bible. Also testing the field in tributes, individual memorial writings, etc. You can read more good Christian news from Glenda HERE.
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