Christianity is all about change — radical change, 180-degree change. Renewal, redemption, salvation, all of these nouns indicate a change from one position to another, better one. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are changed from death to life, from living in dark-ness to abiding in the light. We move from a self-centered attitude (Old man), to being Christ-centered (New Man). There cannot be a righteous relationship with God unless we change. 

That brings us to what is perhaps our greatest obstacle in living a Christian life: change. We abhor change, especially change mandated by another, and yet that is exactly what God has done. He has commanded that we change, we must repent, and believe in order to have eter-nal life with Him.

We have been blessed to have all that we need to make this transition less difficult than it would seem. In the words of John Wesley (paraphrased), “One thing I desire to know, the way to heaven, and God hath condescended, He hath written it down in a book! Oh, give me that book at any price, let me be ‘homo unius libris’” (a man of one book). 

Wesley speaks, of course, about the Holy Bible — God’s letters to all of us. In this precious book God reveals Himself to us, and reveals to us who we are to be. More understanding and peace can be had from sincere sessions of reading this Bible than by any other means. 

Nowhere else is there the opportunity to gain wisdom, find peace, unburden ourselves, and know the will of God for our lives, than in spending time alone with God and His book.

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” — Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV).

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” — Hebrews 4:12.

Read your Bible! 

Let it change your life.

The Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.