Change
“Christianity should not be reduced to political activism or the enforcement of morality, for societal reformation can take place only when Christ is allowed to change the heart of every citizen…It is easy to get caught up in the externals. Beware of those who emphasize actions that we should or shouldn’t do, with no concern for the inward condition of the heart. Living a good life without an inward change leads to a shallow of empty spiritual walk. What matters to God is that we be completely changed from the inside out.” (Abbot Tryphon, Life Application Study Bible, Galatians 6:15)
“An activity that is based on the frenzies and impulsions of human ambition is a delusion and an obstacle to grace. It gets in the way of God’s will, and it creates more problems than it solves. We must learn to distinguish between the pseudo spirituality of activism and the true vitality and energy of Christian action guided by the Spirit.” (Thomas Merton)
“The moral/spiritual life, when treated as one more progressive project, is largely marked by constant failure or worse. We cannot teach a corpse to behave like a living human being. Until the inner-man is healed, all outward efforts will end in frustration or a false existence. What is required in our life is not new behavior but a new creation. That new creation begins in the very depth of the soul. The journey to that depth is marked by weakness, shame, loneliness and what might even feel like failure. It is the difficult work of bringing into the light what we would often prefer to remain hidden. Christ has not come to improve us, but to remake us from the inside out.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“When we trust in Christ’s work on our behalf, rather than in our own moral efforts, God forgives and accepts us and implants his Holy Spirit in us to renew us from the inside out…God is revealed in the heart and it is there that man comes to know Him…we must know Him [Christ] in our heart. As we seek to know Him, the Lord Jesus shapes us from the inside out.” (Pastor Timothy Keller, Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Dynamis 2/10/2015)
“We inch along, focusing on outward change disproportionately. Our efforts yield some degree of permanence, but mostly result only in temporary change and changes with unintended consequences, and then we return to “normal.” This approach comes at a cost as we continue to cycle, following our own will and doing damage even as we do some good. Christ’s teachings and example showed us how to make changes in our own hearts first, and the power and congruence of this type of change with lasting and permanent outer change.” (Sacramental Living Ministries)
“God’s Word does not change in its eternal content, but human comprehension of various facets of His Word can and do experience an evolutionary deepening: the continuing traditioning and interpretation of the Divine Living Word is never finished or exhausted on this side of the Heavenly Kingdom.” (Father Joseph Loya, OSA)
“While the light of God does not change, His grace and energies change us, moving us toward illumination and stability in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (OCPM 1/9/2016)
“When we bring problems to God in prayer, He often responds in the same way, showing us how we need to change and grow in our attitude toward the problem. This answer is often not the one we were looking for, but it is more effective in helping us trace God’s hand in our lives.” (Life Application Study Bible, Luke 12:13-21)
“Change may be slow, but your life will change significantly if you trust God to change you…Although change may be slow, it comes as you trust God to change you…God designed us to go through developmental changes at all ages (Life Application Study Bible, Colossians 2:2023, Ephesians 4:17-24, David Hawkins)
“Change in our lives is not brought about by our tense tinkering. It is brought about by the radiant, immeasurable energy of Christ, which has never left the world since He first said yes to God." (John Maxwell)
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