Bob Newhart once did a comedy piece for “Mad TV” in which he played a counselor who was giving advice to a young woman. After she described her problem to him, Newhart said, “Katherine I am going to say two words to you. I want you to take them from this office and incorporate them into your life. Are you ready? Here they are… STOP IT!” Each time she told him a new problem, his answer was to yell, “Stop it!” (The video is on the internet – Google it if you need a laugh).
Now, on the surface, that seems to make sense. If you are doing something that you do not want to do anymore, then just stop it. However, it usually is not that easy. After all, if we could “stop it” on our own, we probably would have already.
Too often, I think that the church sounds like Bob Newhart. Someone is struggling with a problem or a sin and some well-meaning preacher or church member encourages him or her to “stop it” or to “try harder”. Again, that sounds like good advice, but it is not! In fact, it is not even a Biblical answer.
While the Bible does tell us to “stop it” and to “try harder”, that is not the starting point of its message. In fact, the starting point has much more to do with God than us.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
I have been through enough things in my life to know that change does not come instantly or easily. I understand how difficult some of our struggles can be. However, I also believe that we cannot do enough on our own to fix everything. We need help. We need a new way to see our lives. We need to be “transformed” and changed by God.
Would you like a new life? Could you use a change?
God is waiting. If you let him, he can shape your life into something new.
The starting point is God and not us.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Now, on the surface, that seems to make sense. If you are doing something that you do not want to do anymore, then just stop it. However, it usually is not that easy. After all, if we could “stop it” on our own, we probably would have already.
Too often, I think that the church sounds like Bob Newhart. Someone is struggling with a problem or a sin and some well-meaning preacher or church member encourages him or her to “stop it” or to “try harder”. Again, that sounds like good advice, but it is not! In fact, it is not even a Biblical answer.
While the Bible does tell us to “stop it” and to “try harder”, that is not the starting point of its message. In fact, the starting point has much more to do with God than us.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
I have been through enough things in my life to know that change does not come instantly or easily. I understand how difficult some of our struggles can be. However, I also believe that we cannot do enough on our own to fix everything. We need help. We need a new way to see our lives. We need to be “transformed” and changed by God.
Would you like a new life? Could you use a change?
God is waiting. If you let him, he can shape your life into something new.
The starting point is God and not us.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Comments