Jesus taught us that we need His help to change from the inside out. The Good News is that Jesus can and does change people for the better!
Jesus taught that it isn’t what is outside of us that contaminates us, but what is in our hearts. Therefore if we are to change, it must begin with our hearts. We must change from the inside out. This is the hardest thing to do because we don’t even know ourselves.
The heart is deceitful above all things… (Jer. 17:9)
We cannot change ourselves. Only the Spirit of God can change us. He brings change from the inside out.
The difficulty is that we will always be tempted to focus on our behaviour, and the more that we do that, the less that we will focus on Jesus. It is by beholding Jesus that we become changed. That means that the stronger our relationship with Jesus, and the more we trust him, the more that he will be able to work in our lives to transform us.
We need to be patient with God. Our own agenda for our lives isn’t necessarily his agenda. Each of us has been on a different journey, and Jesus knows the hurts that he needs to heal in our hearts. The change that Jesus wants to work in us doesn’t happen overnight. It is truly the work of a lifetime.
The Holy Spirit Is How Jesus Can Change You From The Inside Out!
The transformation of our lives is what happens when we accept the Gospel. Having been made right with God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, he sends the Holy Spirit into our lives.
The Apostle Paul wrote about how the Holy Spirit brings change from the inside out in his letter to the Galatians;
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23)
That is what Jesus wants our lives to be like, and a person who is a child of God will become more loving, more peaceful, and more joyful. Who doesn’t want that! We will reflect more and more the love of God, which is selfless, pure, and kind.
In Genesis God created human beings in his image. In Genesis chapter 1 it says;
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Gen. 1:27.)
Right from the beginning, God gave human beings worth by making us in His image. Human beings soon rejected God’s instructions and fell into sin, and since then we have failed to perfectly reflect the image of God. But Jesus has sacrificed Himself to forgive us so that we can be born again. When we trust that Jesus is Lord, we are forgiven by God. Through Him we are changed from the inside out, to reflect the image of God.
Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution? How many days or weeks did it last until you fell back into your old habits. When I tried to change myself by my own strength it didn’t work. Only Jesus could free me from my former unhealthy habits.
Many people read self-help books, go on diets, go to the gym, get makeovers, or even get plastic surgery in an effort to change and better themselves.
Makeover television shows have been popular for a long time. I wonder if people’s fascination with makeovers, and self-help books stems from a longing to be made new?
While cosmetic makeovers can only change a person on an external level, only Jesus can change your heart. That’s the change that really matters. The only way to be changed from the inside out is to invite Jesus Christ into your life. Jesus can give you a soul makeover! True change from the inside out…
May God bless everyone with a soul renewed with joy, and change from the inside out!
Article supplied with thanks to Dr Eliezer Gonzalez.
About the Author: Dr Eli Gonzalez is the Senior Pastor of Good News Unlimited and the presenter of the Unlimited radio spots, and The Big Question. Sign up to his free online course called Becoming a Follower of Jesus to learn about Jesus and His message.
Feature image: Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash