An obese man shows up at his doctor’s office. He says to his doctor, “The diet plan you gave me is not working!”
The doctor says, “Have you been eating right?”
“No, I thought about it.”
“Have you been exercising each day?”
“No, I thought about it.”
“Have you changed your habits?”
“No, I thought about it. I thought you said this diet plan would transform me!”

         This story sounds absurd. Everyone knows that lifestyle change requires work. So, why don’t we carry this philosophy into our Christian lives? Instead, we say to God, “I thought you said that you would transform me, but my life hasn’t changed at all!”                                                                                                                  
        Being a Jesus follower requires discipline. We must be intentional.

         Let me ask you, do you remember what your pastor preached about on Sunday?
         If you do remember, have you been putting what you learned into practice?
         What was the last thing that God told you to do? Did you do it?
         What was the last verse you read in your Bible? Are you living it?

         My friends, we must put what we learn into practice! Do you see the folly here? We blame God for not changing us, but we haven’t been obedient to what He has asked us to do! Yes, transforming power comes from God, but that power can do nothing for us if we do not put in some effort.                                     
          In 2 Peter 1:10, we are told, “Make every effort to confirm your calling and election.”
          There is something that should be clarified about the nature of this effort.
 Effort is not, I will change when it is convenient or when I feel like it.
 Effort is immediate, complete devotion. Commitment. Sacrifice.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22-25 (emphasis mine)

         How do we know what we need to change? By spending time in the Word! James says right here that studying the Word of God is like looking in a mirror. It shows us what we need to change. This is a blessing! Before you leave for work in the morning, don’t you look in the mirror? Do you curse it for telling you that your hair is frizzy, you have food on your face, or that you forgot to brush your teeth? Or do you simply go and comb your hair, wash your face, and brush your teeth?
         It’s the same way with the Bible! We should be thankful, not angry, when God points out our faults. He is only doing it for our own good. He is preparing us to be the pure and spotless bride of Christ.
         Jesus is coming back for his bride, the church. Do you want Christ to find you with a stain on your gown? A rip in your tux? Or do you want Him to find you in clean, attractive attire?
         Are you just putting the detergent in the wash without scrubbing out the stains? Are you really committed to change? To Christ?
         Are you being intentional? Or are you still whining, “God, why haven’t I changed yet?” with Cheeto dust smeared all over your face…

        “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:21-27 (emphasis mine)