When I read this verse, one lesson came to my mind: when God moves, man is transformed. The process of transformation is not by human effort. I heard a lot of stories from both strangers and friends that it is very difficult to change. Changing one's habit is not only difficult, it is impossible if done by one's own effort. Why? It is clearly stated in the Bible that everyone is a sinner and is controlled by sinful nature (Romans 3:10). Since the nature of a person is sinful, it will be easy for him or her to commit sin. It is the same situation with butterflies. Their nature is to fly, not to walk. Thus, when someone comes near to it, butterfly flies, instead of simply walks. Fishes by nature swims; thus, in all their lives they will swim. Man is sinful by nature; thus, in all his life, he will sin. Unfortunately, no one has no sin; no one is righteous.
With this, changing one's life becomes difficult; a person will have to go against his/her nature when s/he does it. Going against the natural course of life is like walking uphill. At the end, such person will become tired of doing it; and bang! He goes back to who he was before.
But when God moves in one's life, He will cause the transformation by setting that person free from his sinful nature (Romans 6:17-18). God will set a person free from his sinful nature through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25). Once the person is freed from his sinful nature, he is no longer a slave to unrighteousness, or simply, live in sinfulness; Rather, he is now aware of his sinfulness, and thus comes to God for repentance every time he sinned.
A good example of this transformation is St. Paul. He was the church persecutor during his time. But when God moved in his life, he was totally changed. Instead of being the church persecutor, he has become the Christ's "promoter." I also heard testimonies of transformation among friends and pastors. Many of them confessed that they had difficulty transforming their lives; but when God moved in them, the transformation just came; and they were amazed how they changed through time.
Thus, just as the king in this story did, when God moves in one's life, transformation is not impossible.
Useful Links
The Legalistic Son by John Macarthur
How to Change Yourself by David Pratte
With this, changing one's life becomes difficult; a person will have to go against his/her nature when s/he does it. Going against the natural course of life is like walking uphill. At the end, such person will become tired of doing it; and bang! He goes back to who he was before.
But when God moves in one's life, He will cause the transformation by setting that person free from his sinful nature (Romans 6:17-18). God will set a person free from his sinful nature through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25). Once the person is freed from his sinful nature, he is no longer a slave to unrighteousness, or simply, live in sinfulness; Rather, he is now aware of his sinfulness, and thus comes to God for repentance every time he sinned.
A good example of this transformation is St. Paul. He was the church persecutor during his time. But when God moved in his life, he was totally changed. Instead of being the church persecutor, he has become the Christ's "promoter." I also heard testimonies of transformation among friends and pastors. Many of them confessed that they had difficulty transforming their lives; but when God moved in them, the transformation just came; and they were amazed how they changed through time.
Thus, just as the king in this story did, when God moves in one's life, transformation is not impossible.
Useful Links
The Legalistic Son by John Macarthur
How to Change Yourself by David Pratte
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