That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24

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Can you imagine if the Israelites had believed God, but chose to remain in Egypt? To follow the Passover instructions completely, but then choose to remain in slavery rather than leave? How foolish.

Can you imagine if the Prodigal Son believed his father would forgive him, but continued living with the pigs? What a waste.

Can you imagine if Abram believed God had offered him a Promised Land, but chose to remain in the Land of Ur?

Or can you imagine if Peter, James, and John believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but chose to remain in their boats when he called them to follow? Or if Zacchaeus had continued as a dishonest tax collector? Or if the woman caught in adultery continued her life of sexual immorality?

Those decisions would seem like folly to us.

To fully experience the love and presence of God, the Israelites had to leave their homes in Egypt, the Prodigal Son needed to return home, the disciples needed to follow, the adulteress needed to go and sin no more.

Belief in God always requires a change in our lives.

1. It requires us to separate ourselves from a world and culture set by those who do not know Him.

2. And it will require us to change our personal behavior and attitudes to better align with the life He has called us to live.

Believing God requires change because He always calls us and commands us to live a new life apart from the world.

It would be foolish to remain the same.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your guidance. Allow me change my life for you. May I align myself to you and stray away from the ways of this world. Amen.