The Step of Change We Skip

May I ask you a few questions? I’ll assume that if you read the rest of this sentence the answer is yes. Thanks! I would like you to think about something in your life that is difficult. It may be a sin that is difficult to dislodge, or a trial that has come to you, with no end or resolution in sight. Now, think about what you do next, normally. Think about what you “just” do.

What should you do? We skip a step here. It’s the spiritual equivalent of literally skipping a step as you descend stairs – you fall or end up with a stretched ligament. If you miss this step, you miss something vital for going to where you want to go. You want life, real life. And your/my next step for finding life is often one of two things: “Stop doing that,” or “Just believe.” Both are good – we are commanded to repent and believe, no?

But there is a step before “Stop it”, and before “Just believe.” Here are the questions I’d like to ask you, regarding that specific, difficult thing in your life: Who is God? What does He say, about your specific difficulty? What does/did He do in Christ, for you? What does He promise you? God never calls us to “just stop it”, nor does He call us to “just believe”. God does not just say “Behold Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:18). He precedes that with truth – in this case, that in the Spirit of Christ there is seeing with new eyes; there is true, abiding freedom (verses 16 and 17). God graciously precedes His commands with acts and words.

We become wise as we slow down and ask these questions, and by His Spirit make connections from His Words to our specific situations – what happens to us, and how we respond. As you connect one piece of Scripture to one piece of life, things begin to “pop”. The how’s and the why’s and the what’s of “stop it” become more clear, more urgent. You begin to want it more. And how’s and the why’s and the what’s of “just believe” become less a burden and more a delight. You begin to see with new eyes your holy, benevolent Lord. And you want, increasingly, what you should do. Reading Scripture becomes less a chore and more a labor of anticipation and expectation, as you wonder what God will do and say and promise next. Glory to Him! Good to you . . .