Why Do We Want to Change Ourselves?

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“God made you a man or woman, and did not make a mistake. Sometimes it can feel like He did when we look at other people and compare, listen to the hurtful words of others or the destructive voices in our own mind. Here is the truth. You were made by the one who sits as King of the Earth on His throne in heaven.”

Do you like who you are? I am sure all of us wish we could change a few things about ourselves. Even the most beautiful or handsome among us. But I am asking something deeper. Do you so dislike some things about yourself that you are willing to go to great lengths to change yourself?

Whoever is walking through such feelings is not alone. Many are traveling this path. This goes beyond feelings though. This is about who someone really is, and where they came from. I am not talking about their family. Large numbers of people come from difficult homes. They may have had a single parent, raised by their grandparents, or have been abused. I want to go back further than their family.

Let us go back to where all of us have come from. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . .’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…’” (Genesis 1:26,27-28)

This is where you and I have come from. We have been created by Almighty God. Before you were born, you were fashioned together by Him. You are not a product of science or biology, but a miracle of the one who fills the universe with His presence.

He made you a man or woman, and did not make a mistake. Sometimes it can feel like He did when we look at other people and compare, listen to the hurtful words of others or the destructive voices in our own mind. Here is the truth. You were made by the one who sits as King of the Earth on His throne in heaven.

What is the evidence of this? You were made in God’s image and the imprint of His likeness is upon you. Where does your laugh come from? Your ability to love, gain knowledge, be creative, show kindness and a host of other things? All from God. This is who He is and He gave some of His likeness to each of us along with physical life. For it is not just your heart, blood and brain that keeps you going. Ultimately, it was God’s Spirit that breathed life in you to make you live. And one day, that life will be withdrawn from you upon death.

Even though we are a wonderful creation of God, there is something not right. Something is amiss. Each one of us is born with a bent toward disobeying our Creator. The bent is called sin. It has touched everything God has created in us and corrupted it. We love, but only certain people. We gain knowledge, but it may not be good or edifying. We are creative, but not in always creating honorable things.

And sometimes this corruption shows itself in the rejection of what God has made – ourselves. This is the root of why we often want to change who we are. Instead of giving God thanks for how He made us and loving ourselves just as we are, we condemn ourselves and want to change what God has made. God is not pleased when we reject what He has made and called it good.

What is the answer? God sent His only Son to rid us of this internal brokenness. If we turn from our disobedience and to God by faith, we will instantly become a new person. Then the separation between us and God will be bridged. You will be one with the God who made you, and finally see yourself through His eyes.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, I pray for those who look at themselves and want to change who they are. Open their eyes to see how they were created by you. Help them to see how there is a corruption within them causing all this. Bring them to turn from their sin, and to faith in Christ. Then lift the veil of darkness so they can see and be made new by the light of Jesus. In His name. Amen.”

Overcoming Hate

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“Hate can be rid from our hearts, along with its companions—bitterness, anger and unforgiveness.  And the chains of hate that others have tried to bound us with, can be snapped off and laid powerless at our feet.  How so?  Through the cross of Jesus Christ.”       

Hate. This is an often-used word in our culture. Hate speech. Acts of hate. Hate crimes. Why do people hate? Sometimes it is aimed at others who are not like them and those who do not conform to their set of beliefs, values or convictions. They are not part of their political party, their religion, or maybe they are a different race or speak a different language. There is something within us as humans that seems to stiffen up or flat out reject those who are not like us. As a result, because of hate, there are always people in society that are rejected, condemned or seemingly pushed to the side.

There was a time when Jesus was teaching people in the temple, and in walked a group of religious leaders immediately gathering the attention of the crowd. They interrupted Jesus’ teaching by heartlessly dragging some unnamed woman with them, and presented her before Him. Then in a further act of public humiliation, they stated that she had been caught having an affair with a married man. Then they asked Jesus what should be done with her, fully knowing what their laws require. They did not care about the woman. She was just a tool being used to challenge Jesus so they could find something to arrest Him for.

After Jesus dealt with the men and they left, He stood there before the quiet and humiliated woman with the crowd watching. He softly spoke to her these words before she left and went back home, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

The religious leaders treated the woman with hate. Why? Because she was a woman and disobeyed God’s law on adultery. They were selective in their hate though. The man she was having an affair with, was let off by the leaders. And there were many other laws of God they could have picked, maybe even ones they violated. There is never a sense of integrity with hate. By nature, it is always hypocritical and corrupt.

They also hated Jesus. That is why they brought the woman to Him. They hated Him because He did not follow their man-made religious traditions and challenged their beliefs and behavior with the truth. He did not conform to their ways.

What can overcome the cruel hate the religious leaders shamelessly showed? Can it be defeated or is our only option to bow before it and allow it to enslave us?

Praise God, hate can be overcome. It can be rid from our hearts, along with its companions—bitterness, anger and unforgiveness. The chains of hate that others have tried to bound us with, can be snapped off and laid powerless at our feet. How so? Through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Hate in the hearts of evil men put Him on the cross and killed Him. Yet, three days later Jesus rose from the dead overcoming the hate of others. On that day, good triumphed over evil!

Because of Jesus, hate can be defeated. Not by human methods though. For hate comes from a heart controlled by the curse of sin, and it is a spiritual battle to transform that heart into one of love. Why was Jesus not controlled by the hate of others or return hate for the evil spewed upon Him? Because His heart was pure. He heard His opponents’ evil words with a heart of peace and spoke the truth to them with a heart of purity.

Do not let words of hate fall from your lips anymore, and let the days be gone when someone else’s words of hate control you. In Christ is cleansing and freedom. Let Him give you a clean heart and life of freedom through the power of His indwelling Spirit.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, as Christ overcame His hate-filled adversaries, let us overcome it too. We admit our sinful hearts and call upon you to cleanse us and fill us with your very presence, and all that you are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

How to Know What is Right and Wrong

"When I preach Jesus, I preach the truth. When people turn to Jesus, they turn to the truth. When people follow Jesus, they follow the truth."

Do you believe lying is wrong? What about stealing? If a married man has an adulterous affair with another woman, is that okay? How about when a person commits murder? I believe we would have universal agreement across all races, languages and nations that these are morally wrong.

The questions are broad though. Disagreement can surface when we change from talking generally to personally, and ask, “Do you believe it is wrong for YOU to lie?” “Is it wrong for YOU to steal?” All of the sudden answers may be different now because it is about YOU, and not other people.

Then we can have more disagreement, even controversy, when we move into other areas that are more specific. Do you believe it is morally wrong for two men to marry? What about a man to become a woman? It is wrong for a woman to have an abortion? On these, we are far away from universal agreement. On these moral issues, we might say, “Well, for other people I cannot say, but for me I would never do such and such.”

This all leads to one final question. Are there absolute moral truths for you, me, our family, friends and neighbors where we can know what is right or wrong regardless of personal circumstances, feelings or the opinions of others? In the end, it all comes down to “truth.”

Before Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion, He had a conversation with His judge. “You say that I am a king”, Jesus responded to Pilate. “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” This caught Pilate’s curiosity who then asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38)

This is the question of many today. Jesus did not answer Pilate. Why? Because He already did and Pilate knew it. Jesus was the truth. He stated this earlier to His own disciples declaring, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (Jn. 14:6)

What does that mean, Jesus is the truth?  As the standard for measurement is a ruler, and as the standard for time is a clock, so Jesus is the standard for truth.

How can Jesus make such an astounding and unique claim? Because of His incarnation and resurrection. The Bible declares Jesus was born of a virgin, God was His Father and He was born perfectly moral, with no sin in Him. His incarnate birth bears witness that He is the truth, and so does His resurrection. He died like any other human being, then something happened. He was put in a tomb on Friday, but on Sunday it was empty. He rose from the dead, or rather, He rose Himself from the dead. Jesus once said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” (Jn. 18:17) That is what Jesus did. He chose to die. Then He chose to raise Himself up again. What human being has such power? None. Only the Lord God, and that is whom Jesus is. He is the very living and breathing Word of God. Therefore, Jesus has the right and the authority to boldly state, “I am the truth.”

This has significant implications. Because of His incarnation and resurrection. The Bible declares Jesus was born of a virgin, God was His Father and He was born perfectly moral with no sin in Him. His incarnate birth bears witness that He is the truth, and so does His resurrection. He died like any other human being, then something happened. He was put in a tomb on Friday, but on Sunday it was empty. He rose from the dead, or rather, He rose Himself from the dead. Jesus once said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” (Jn. 18:17) That is what Jesus did. He chose to die. Then He chose to raise Himself up again. What human being has such power? None. Only the Lord God, and that is whom Jesus is. He is the very living and breathing Word of God. Therefore, Jesus has the right and the authority to boldly state, “I am the truth.”

This has significant implications. When I preach Jesus, I preach the truth. When people turn to Jesus, they turn to the truth. When people follow Jesus, they follow the truth. Do not trust in changing circumstances, unreliable feelings or the persuasive words of others. Turn to the unchangeable Truth of Jesus. The very Word of God.

Jesus is the standard for all humanity. The source for determining all that is right and wrong. By Him we will be judged. Come and find mercy at the foot of His cross.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, help us to know the truth in a world of moral confusion. Help us to know Jesus more. To seek Him and His Word that we might live like Him. Help us to turn from lies and deception to the way of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”