I have to grab hold of God and go after change in my life!

God asks us to take an active role in our spiritual transformation. But many Christians feel defeated. A common misconception voiced among defeated Christians is I can’t work up transforming faith. I have to let God change my life. This misconception revolves around misunderstandings of both faith and how God transforms us.

In Luke 17:1-10, Jesus was teaching his disciples. Among other things, he instructed them, “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The disciples responded to this statement in a way that demonstrates this stifling misconception. They said to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:3-5)

In other words, Jesus coaches them that they need to be ready to be very generous with their forgiveness toward others and they respond, “Wow, that’s going to require a lot of faith! So, Lord, please give us the faith we need to forgive like that!” But Jesus then explains, “No, guys, this is not a faith issue. This is an obedience issue.” (Luke 17:6 -10 paraphrase)

The Scriptures teach that spiritual transformation requires both dependence and diligence. Dependence on God and diligence to pursue him are like the two parts of epoxy glue. Both parts have to be present for the glue to hold. Try to get by with either part by itself and it won’t work! The emphasis of dependence without diligence is laxity and leads to passivity. The emphasis of diligence without dependence is legalism and leads to godlessness.

The liberating truth that combines dependence with diligence recognizes I have to grab hold of God and go after change in my life. I love the way Paul expresses this concept in Titus 2:11-14:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

©2009 Rob Fischer