A wise person once told me, “Change has to happen in order for change to happen.”
Every single time I read those words, I’m captivated by the truth they possess.
You see, I love change.
And I love helping people.
And I love seeing people changed by the love of the Father.
But regardless of how much God decides to use me, I’m not able to change people. That’s His job, not mine.
I remember when I first went on my World Race in 2013 and somehow thought that it was my duty to change people for the sake of advancing The Gospel — which is funny because I myself wasn’t even changed by a man or women, but instead was loved and directed towards the only true source that could bring me change; God.
I would rejoice when people in Honduras or Thailand would find hope in Christ, but would feel like a failure when someone would turn away from wanting to know the Father’s heart. I took it personally. It was a little discouraging, but that’s because my mindset was completely off. I was focusing way too much on what “I” was doing for God, and not enough on the bigger picture; God’s omnipotent power and preeminent role in the business of life change.
I believe many of today’s Christians put too much weight on themselves to bring people to Jesus. It’s our job to love people, not change them. And we must understand the reality that only the Holy Spirit has the power and authority to do such a thing. Our calling is to simply share The Gospel in love and truth, showcasing the character of Jesus through our everyday lives. This alone is the calling of a Christian. This alone is a weighty yet fulfilling purpose for each and every person who chooses to pick up their cross daily.
If we were to scour the Bible, we’d see there is not a single passage which states we are called to change people.
Why?
Because it’s not our job, and it was never intended to be. We need to take a step back and realize that God’s job is to be God, and our job is to lead people towards the door that is hope. Once we’ve done this, we must let go and allow He who created the world to take care of the rest.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”—John 13:34
Love the person in front of you exactly as they are, not who they might one day become.
So today, don’t waste your time trying to change people. Instead, focus on simply giving away love like you’re made of it.
I promise it’ll bring change.
Just wanted to say thank you all for reading and helping support me on this incredible journey of being able to Squad Lead for a second time. As many of you know, it’s an incredible honor to be able to invest in the next generation of Kingdom Builders. If you’d like to help in the ministry the Lord has given me, feel free to hit the “Support Me!” tab on the left.
Each donation keeps me on the field a little bit longer so I can keep pouring out love to not only the nations, but those changing the nations as well!
Much love!
