“You make me want to be a better man.”
This famous line from the movie “As Good As It Gets” is a great summary of how love can change us.
You may have heard Christians say God has changed their lives or that God is their motivation for doing good things. What they’re really saying is that God’s love makes them want to be better people.
The message of Christianity is that God loves us. He was willing to give His Son to die and take on all the consequences of everything we ever did wrong. He did that to make a way for us to have a relationship with Him.
This type of sacrificial love is life-changing. Not only is God’s love inspirational but God’s love is powerful. He can and does use His power to transform people.
If you want to change your life, having a relationship with God can give you the courage and power to change in ways you never thought possible.
You may ask, “If God’s love is a powerful force for change, why are some Christians such jerks?”
That’s a legitimate question. Christians — like everyone else — are not perfect, but they are forgiven. They’ve experienced an inward change that, over time, will start to make a difference in outward behavior. When you place your faith in Jesus instead of in yourself, you begin a relationship with God. He takes away your guilt and shame. You become His beloved child.
The power to change takes place in the context of this loving and secure relationship with God.
As you get to know God, you begin to take on His characteristics. Your perspective changes because God sees things differently than we do. Being forgiven and loved by God also motivates you to extend this love and kindness to others.
These are just a few changes people see when they start a relationship with God. But imagine: If a relationship with a person can make you want to be a better person, how much more will being a treasured child of God impact your life?
If you are in need of change, explore what it means to have a relationship with God.
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