RADICAL GROWTH

"'He must become greater; I must become less.'" (John 3:30, NIV)

Through the years, as with many of us, my golf swing has changed. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that my swing has "evolved." I certainly didn't set out to change it.

While the resulting swing has turned out to be better, at least for the frequency and style of play that I employ, I cannot say the same for other changes in my life—many of which I have set out to enact.

And then there are those changes that God introduces.

Who first said, "It's not that people don't like change, it's that they don't like being changed"? Whoever it was, they had a good bit of insight into human nature. Even when change is introduced by the God of all creation, we resist. Our sin likes the optimal conditions our self-focused characters provide. Why ever would we change when we are so comfortable?

When John the Baptist walked through the land in witness of Jesus Christ, he made a conclusive statement regarding his relationship to Christ. You may know the more traditional translation of the verse: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (KJV).

John was saying that he needed to make a change in his life. Or, more closely, he needed to continue the process of change.

Only in the light of the One far greater are we willing to make a radical change. Only surrendered to the hands of the One who cares for our souls are we willing to continue changing for His sake—in spite of our comfort-preserving natures.

What we are trusting God for when we make and continue in changes for His sake is that He will grow us more and more in the direction of His image. In other words, we are moving toward a glorious payoff.

So also is our perspective glorious. When we begin to understand that if we are given over to Christ everything He orders into our lives is for our spiritual growth (our sanctification), what a different look we can take at the events of our lives, good and bad. Theologian R.T. Kendall has put it this way: "You know, there are two kinds of Christians: those who stay in their comfort zones and those who are willing to keep moving out of their comfort zones. The latter type is in the process of sanctification."

The best change you can make in your life? Let God take over. Let Him increase. When you do that, everything else falls into place. Your growth in Him is assured.

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Jeff Hopper

January 11, 2007

Copyright 2007 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.