Going Under the Knife

We concluded 2024 with some pretty incredible events. One such event was surgery. My husband had heart surgery. Hello! Some time in November, we were informed of an anomaly. and within weeks, he was in Cardiac ICU recovering from the required corrective surgery. I was present when instruction was given before surgery. I was present when instruction was given post-surgery. Instructions included dietary changes and lifestyle changes. Again and again we were told, changes were key. The "fix" was a fix; his body had indeed been changed. But the object of the game is, from that point forward, not to undo the correction, to take the clean slate you've been given and do right by your body this time. That's some mercy right there! The surgery changes your body. Following the proper habits and practices you are taught change your life.

Romans 5:8 promises that, while we were sinners, while we were in a state of poor health (to say the least), in a fatal condition, Jesus died for us. Colossians 1:13-14 tells us, we were rescued from death and transferred to a place of light and hope; all our sins, past, present, and future are forgiven and our slate is clean. Romans 8:1 assures us we are not condemned for anything we do. We are free to ignore the Law as a means of being made right with God. We are already made right with Him. Obedience to God's Law, to His Word is our worship. And He is worthy of the best, most consistent, most sacrificial worship we can give Him. The blood of Jesus changes our position with regard to eternal life. The disciplines of prayer, Bible reading, fasting, worship, obedience, giving --these things change our life!

How would your life change if you began worshiping God through a day dedicated to prayer once a month? How would your life change if you practiced a day of silence and meditation on Scripture once a month? How would life change if you began putting an extra one percent in the offering each week? How would life change if you volunteered to teach Sunday school every few weeks? How would your life change if you attended the annual couple's retreat your pastor has been recommending? 

Being born again, acknowledging Jesus as your Lord and Savior changes your position with regard to God's wrath. You are no longer depending on your own righteousness (of which none is righteous), your own good deeds (they are as filthy rags), when you stand before the Judge. You are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. But what changes your life from heroin addict to business owner, from angry neighbor to compassionate friend, from reckless driver to law-abiding citizen, from fearful agoraphobe to public speaker, from illiterate inmate to pastor, from bulimic mom to blogger and teacher --what changes your life is the self-discipline that the Holy Spirit effects in you as you submit to the changes He desires to make! Positionally, we are changed at the rebirth, but we must follow the orders of the Great Physician. We must welcome and obey the Spirit of power and love and self-discipline who now lives within us. No more evenings at the bar or late-night raids on the refrigerator, the fellowship of saints rather than fraternizing with snakes, standing on truth when we once crumbled under the weight of lies, whole-hearted devotion over self-indulgent faddism. Study, memorization, prayer, worship, church attendance --work, practices, habits that may not always be the easiest or most appealing but will change the lives of those positioned under the grace of our Savior's work. Hearts made new must receive care, the care of one who desires to live for a long time!