Five Ways to Change

Discipleship is comprehensive when it comes to the change process. Let me illustrate this with an analogy of building a house. Just as constructing a house involves various steps and resources, growing up in Christ and maturing into womanhood or manhood is a multifaceted journey. We need to ask, how does this transformation happen? There are five ways for us to experience change, and I’ll list them logically.

1. First, the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is foundational. God grants repentance and brings change in our lives. While God’s work is central, it doesn’t mean we have no responsibility. We don’t adhere to a “let go, let God” mentality.
2. Second, the Bible changes us. Reading Scripture and learning from it allows God, through the Spirit, to bring conviction and repentance. We cooperate with God’s Word, which is an active process.
3. Third, we have a role to play through active obedience. While God works in us, we must engage with Him. Faith without works is dead, meaning our actions are crucial in the change process.
4. Fourth, God uses people in our lives as instruments of grace. People can be like Nathan was to David, or like Joseph’s brothers, who played a role in his life’s transformation. Sometimes these people are kind and supportive; other times, they may be adversaries, but God uses both for our growth.
5. Fifth, events also bring change. Consider Joseph’s life again. He told his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” The cross of Christ is the ultimate event that transformed millions of lives.

These five elements—God’s work, the Bible, our obedience, people, and events—work together in a mysterious way to bring about change. While the proportion of each element may vary, they all contribute to our growth in Christ. Ultimately, God orchestrates all these means of grace to transform our lives, and we see this pattern throughout Scripture. Therefore, we should ensure these elements are present in our lives as well.