“‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’” (John 3:4).
Our background may influence who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
The wonderful thing about the gospel is its tremendous potential to change us. Each person can be remade.
We can’t change our backgrounds, genealogies or our parents. We can’t change our nationality or our genetic makeup. We can’t alter life experiences or choose different childhoods.
God does not hold us responsible for our backgrounds. He does hold us responsible for what we do with our future—what we become. Are there things about yourself you would like to change?
We can change the way we look, think and act. But only the Holy Spirit can change what we are. Only He can change selfishness to generosity—self-centeredness to consideration. He can transform inflexibility to flexibility. He can turn shy people into leaders. He makes sinners into saints!
We must ask the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus and cooperate with Him while He changes us. In that sense, we are responsible for what we become.
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
Copyright (c) 2005 Women’s Ministries of the Assemblies of God.
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