What is Christian Change?

We often talk about discipleship in terms of change.  We want to see ourselves and the people around us changing, acting differently, talking differently.  But what is the nature of Christian change?  It goes far beyond the surface, is much deeper than changes in behavior.
Christian change is a change of identity.  It is a change of “who we are”.  It is a change of our values and ambitions.
Christian change is enacted by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We do not will ourselves into thinking or acting differently, but are changed internally by the very power of God.  We are awakened from our spiritual deadness to see light and life through Christ.  One of our most common sins is self-reliance, running back to our own power to effect some willful change.  God reached into our dark lives and brought us to life, yet somehow we think that after that its all up to us to continue to change.
Christian change is inevitable.  True faith in Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit and He will change us.  This change is often slow and progressive.  It can be hard to see the changes happening in ourselves as this growth occurs slowly and organically, much like the fruit on a tree.  But when measured over time, the change is occuring.  Without change there is no evidence that the Spirit lives within us.
Christian change is far-reaching.  The Apostle Paul laid out a list of attributes that are the fruit of the Spirit, the character changes that occur in a follower of Christ. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22).  These character changes are not a list of possible changes but a singular collective result of what the Spirit does within us.  These things all work together and interdependantly to produce the whole character of God within us as we are being changed into his image.  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:17-18)
Are you full of love?  Do you feel joy?  Are you at peace?  Do you express patience?  Are you kind to others? Are you good and show integrity? Are you faitful in your commitments? Are you gentle?  Do you have self-control in tempting situations?
If you lack these things, do not just start making a to-do list to change your behavior but look back to Christ as the one who has changed your identity into an heir of God’s Kingdom, an adopted child of the Lord of the world, a worshiper of the Creator of all things.  Repent of those things which you are viewing as more important than Jesus, the things that consume your thoughts, time, energy, and money.  Reflect on the unmeasurable worth of Christ’s sacrifice for you, and open the door for the Spirit of God to change who you are from the inside out.