Facebook changed the layout on my profile the other day, and one of the things it does is make ‘notes’ you have written somewhat more prominent.
Because of this, I found several notes I had written back in 2009 and earlier.
They were about topics like evolution, the environment, abortion, etc.
Here’s the fun part about these notes that I wrote: As I was reading them, I mostly disagreed with them.
That excites me so much.
Why? Because that means I am growing. I am changing. I’m not the same person I was 4, 5 , 6 years ago.
That’s a good thing, because I wasn’t perfect 4, 5 or 6 years ago. I had areas of my life that needed to change, and needed to grow.
I hope that 5 years from now, as I’m reading my tumblr/wordpress archive, I find some posts that I think are silly, just like I now think my facebook notes are silly.
Growth and change are so important to me because I know I’m not just like Jesus yet. In fact, I have a ways to go in order to get to that point. To be honest, I’ll probably never actually reach that goal. But I can grow closer than where I’m at now.
I find that my hard edge of theological rigor has been supplanted by humility and love.
I’m spending less time trying to be superior, and more time trying to be relatable.
I’ve learned that you can’t argue people into the kingdom of God, but you can love them into it.
Yesterday, I read this in Romans 2:4 (MSG) - “God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness, he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.”
I look back at my life and I see that I’m not the same that I was. I realize that I am becoming something other than I was. And that speaks to God in my life.
Because people rarely change, but when they do, it’s almost never on their own.
If I’m different, I believe it’s because I have invited God to be a part of my life. And he loves me enough to not leave me the same as he found me.
Please forgive me for all my imperfections, and in the areas where I am getting it wrong. Because the most important thing about me is is this:
I am becoming more like Jesus.
As you open your life to him, I know you are too.