This month we will continue teaching on the theme of change. The end result of change is being conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus. The world wants us conformed to itself.

Sometimes our families wants us to be more like them. Maybe even our church wants us to change to be more to their liking. But, we serve a Savior who has a perfect plan of changing us into His image so that we can be the very best person possible. God’s goal for our lives is always perfect, and only He knows what that perfection will look like.

After studying hunger and thirst as a basic change agent in the believer’s life, next comes the Scriptures. Hundreds of books have been written about the value of the Word of God in Christian’s lives. But still the fact remains, the Bible contains power to change lives. When you and I read and study and meditate and memorize the Scriptures we are putting that power into our lives and that power will create change.

God’s thoughts are greater than our thoughts (Is. 55:8-11, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”) and as we receive His thoughts ours will give way to His. When our thought life increases so will the rest of our actions. What a Christian thinks about will affects what he/she says and those new words will create an increase of God’s blessing for that person.

“The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Ps. 119:130).

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16).

“And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (II Tim. 3:15)

As Christians in the world today, we need the wisdom, the revelation, the insights into living that the Word of God contains. I want to encourage you to spend even more time looking into what your Father has to say to you through the Word.

Please write to me at teaching@agapeglobalmissions.org and let me know what you think about these brief teaching letters.

This update was posted on Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 1:42 pm and is filed under Dr. Jim's Newsletters.