How is
behavior altered? In his book The Social Animal, David Brooks notes that
some experts have said people just need to be taught the long-term risks of bad
behavior. For example, he writes: “Smoking can lead to cancer. Adultery
destroys families, and lying destroys trust. The assumption was that once you
reminded people of the foolishness of their behavior, they would be motivated
to stop. Both reason and will are obviously important in making moral decisions
and exercising self-control. But neither of these character models has proven
very effective.” In other words, information alone is not powerful enough to
transform behavior.
As Jesus’
followers, we want to grow and change spiritually. More than two millennia ago,
Jesus told His disciples how that can happen. He said, “Abide in Me, and I in
you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). Jesus is the Vine and we,
His followers, are the branches. If we’re honest, we know we’re utterly
helpless and spiritually ineffective apart from Him.
Jesus
transforms us spiritually and reproduces His life in us—as we abide in Him.
A change
in behavior begins with God changing our heart. (RBC)
