Ministry has been busy with answering people’s theological questions every day! I consider it a joy though and a privilege.
Someone wrote of how he’s discouraged as it seems he’s the only one being transfomed while those aound him doesn’t seem to change. He’s also wondering about if’s the stumbling block and is also discouraged.
Here’s my pastoral reply:
Your comment sparked some memories of my first year in ministry where people were apostating and secret sins were revealed and I wonder what was going on and at times it felt only my wife and I was growing spiritually. I would also wonder if there was something wrong with me as why people didn’t change. Here’s some thoughts if it helps in anyways.
- First off I look back at those times and do see that God was changing me and I need to have the priority of my own sanctification before concerns for others sanctification. The news with Ravi reminds me the danger of neglecting personal sanctification.
- Flowing from point 1, I think the examples in our lives also is something God can use to encouraged others to change. Paul even said follow me as I follow Christ. This doesn’t take away the need to address issues and confront sin lovingly, but remember sometimes some things are caught and not just taught.
- I also see God working in me to stress the Gospel more than just pressing others being transformed; for the Gospel is what changes people and goes further to bring change than merely wanting people to change. Keeping focus on the Gospel and applying the Gospel with sins and issues bring about true and lasting transformation.
- Meditate on God’s truth that Christians do change. I’ve attached a link that I often mediate upon to go by God’s promise and not just my feelings or experience to then think God is not working in others: Christians Can Change: Doctrines that gives hope for Change. Rather it’s the opposite: if God is working we need to realize He changes people in His time, and in His set pace.
- Realize change is slow. Think of long God took to change us. We have to look sometimes in years and not a metric of days or weeks.
- If you write down your prayer requests for yourself and others sometimes that’s a good tool to look back and see God does change and transform yourself and others.
- Keep in mind people won’t be perfect this side of eternity, even if you see people change and are transfomed.
- Remember we must be faithful to the truth and serve God even when we don’t see any fruit or we aren’t sure of the fruit. Faithfulness is a priority over judging success or result at this moment.
What else can you add?
Great insight brother. This brings to mind that one man sows and another reaps. We all rejoice in the harvest.
Blessings.
Looks like this set is sufficient, Jim! You already covered prayer (in item 6) and GOD’s Word. True, the change in the person is slow but GOD is patient (2 Peter 3:9). Even so, we desperately needed GOD’s grace and work in both our salvation and sanctification, as we will never be perfect in this world. We will be transformed when JESUS completes our holiness, and at that time, we will be worshipping the Triune GOD in Heaven. Blessings to you and your family!
I agree!!!
Like what they say, Beth, our sanctification is “slowly but surely.”
For sure, Kent! I’ve witnessed that in my own life and have had to be taught/shown that!
The result is important, Beth, than the process. We are all grateful to GOD for His mercy and grace!
Thanks Kent for reading this! I love what you said here: “ We will be transformed when JESUS completes our holiness, and at that time, we will be worshipping the Triune GOD in Heaven.” Sometime I fear that in heaven I will forget people from the past but then I recall we will be perfected and likely we remember people too. What a joy it be to worship God together without sin and also meet those whom we never got to physically meet in real life here on earth! Will look forward to meeting you one day whether here or later in heaven!
Well, meeting you in a little while via zoom, pastor!
Reblogged this on Born Again.
[…] Help! I’m Discouraged since I don’t see people Changing […]
Love this.
Scripture says to remove the plank in our own eye first and we will be able to see clearly the mote in our brother’s eyes.
🙌
Amen
Appreciate the first point in God changing and sanctifying us. More often than not God wants to change me not someone else. As I respond to Him and He changes me I see people and situations differently. Thankful for you, Nancy, kiddos!
Do you have a Lent devotional that you recommend? I haven’t found anything that jumps out at me this year.
Indeed amen more often than not God wants me to change more than changing someone else. And our perspective change as a result of that. Answering your question I don’t know if I recommended this to you as a book to read that my wife and I both enjoy as we approach Resurrection Sunday: https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/review-jesus-keep-me-near-the-cross-experiencing-the-passion-and-power-of-easter/ I have recommended that book a couple of times already this year and sometimes I lose track who I say things to lol. Sorry if I already suggested it…
I will check this out! Thank you! My dad’s birthday is today so celebrating with him. May not make it tonight so if you could pray for Nathan and I to have wisdom that would be GREAT! Please let me know how I can pray for y’all if I’m not there!
Can a leopard change it’s spots?
That’s God’s work. Our’s is to believe and be faithful to the one who is faithful.
To go when told to go. To check our listening ability and practice our responsibility (response-ability)
something sparked me Jim…LOL
All we can. do is plant the seed. God has to do the growing
Good thoughts. Pastoring is a gift because discouragement would probably derail those who do it in the flesh. Lord bless all of your ministries! Sometimes I would rather grumble about someone’s lack of growth rather than pray for them and encourage them.
Our flesh is so weak. We all need the grace of God so much for ministering to others. How are you guys with this weather? I imagine it’s below zero out there…
The temps is actually not too bad, 23F, but we got about 5 inches overnight and it took me one hour to snowblow the driveway. I was supposed to take one of my sisters to a routine MD appointment today, so that was scratched. Another storm expected Friday. I see big patches of the country got hit with typical ROC winter weather.
Amen and Amen.
Totally in agreement and point 3 stands out for me.
Thanks for reading the post and also noting the point in point 3. About to lead Bible study and prayer, anything we can pray for you for?
Thank you please pray for our ministry this coming Friday. We need God’s Wisdom,courage, boldness and humbleness and we share His gospel.
Thank you pastor Jim.
I know I changed a lot since I became a Christian 24 years ago. Nice post.
A while back I wrote about organizing my bookshelves during the lockdown, finding a pile of old journals, and reading them. It made me realize that although I didn’t feel I had been growing, over the last few decades I had grown a LOT.
Well said Pastor Jim! God’s own patience mixed with love works with His grace. As Christians, we need to be patient with others as God’s plan moves forward for them.
[…] What can you say to such a father? I think these posts might be helpful to help “prime the pump” of things you can say with specific trials: Help! Son rejecting God because of loss, Biblical Counseling: Parenting Rebels and Apostates and Help! I’m Discouraged since I don’t see people Changing. […]