Christ Wants To Change Us


Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23(NLT)

One day Jesus went to the town of Bethsaida to get away, but the crowds found out where he was going and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.  Late in the afternoon the crowd was hunger, but the disciples only had five loaves of bread and two fish, which actually was a little boy’s lunch.  Jesus changed the boy's lunch to a feast and fed 5000 men. The people were filled; Jesus feed them physically and spiritually, yet they had not changed.

We find this to be true because, Jesus later turned to the crowd and said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn (change) from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”  Jesus had done everything possible for these men and their families yet they remained with the same old issues and sins that they had before.  Even after hearing and seeing Jesus work miracles among them they remained selfish and unchanged.  People can go to church for years and never truly change. 

Every miracle Christ ever performed became a great change. Blind eyes opened, deaf ears heard, demon-possessed men freed, crippled walked, the mute spoke, the sick healed and the dead lived again! Christ does not change us a little.  He changes us completely.

The very reason Christ came to earth was so mankind could be changed.  It was not just so he could be born and we could celebrate Christmas.  He came that we may be changed. Have you really changed or do you still struggle with the same sins you had 5, 10, 15 or 20 years ago?  Have changed really come? Are you still dealing with sexual immorality, lying, stealing, cheating, deep in debt, etc; or are you completely different to the point where people can see and feel the change? 


Paul states that in Romans, 12:2 (NLT), "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." 

We celebrate Christmas because Christ the "Changer" came to change us and the way we think. And, we must change if we are every to see Jesus return in his glory.  What good does it do to gain the entire world and lose your soul?  Jesus asked that very question after he told them they must change from being selfish. Be changed by the power of His Name and remember not to be selfish this Christmas. 

Merry Christmas
Pastor Patricia McNair

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    I just thank God for you. I remember once emailing you and thanking God for bringing you to our church home(RAG). There is no doubt that He has brought you to strengthen the women and to encourage and help them to be changed in Jesus name! Today I came on your site and was blessed through the sharing of Gods' word here in your blog. Thanks be to God for sending Christ the "Changer" of our lives, Amen! Just reading this blog and listening to your interview with Dan Willis "I'm Just Sayin" helped me today to be encouraged for who I am in Christ. I had for about four years now struggled with my self esteem and with the spirit of fear- to step up in faith once again! Before coming to RAG I had lead a Women's Group and served as asst. coordinator for the Women's Ministry; served as greeter and usher, opened in prayer before the congregation on a given Sunday, etc. However, I feel like I'm trapped- I feel stuck. I have tried since being here (4yrs) at RAG- but nothings happening. I thought maybe is because I have experienced so much disappointments in my personal life with my children and some other stuff in my life that maybe- I'm just not the same anymore... I don't know but I can't wait to get the book, "A Women's Heart" I'm hoping it will help me to get back on my spiritual feet.
    I pray that God will strengthen you so that you will continue to be the voice of one calling in the wilderness for the lost and hurting women around the world. God bless you and your family.

    Love In Christ,
    ER

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