Be the Change You Want to See
As you learn things and adopt them, and the people in your life see how good they are for you, and that you're getting stronger and you're happier, they will instinctively be drawn to you. And I have to say, the people in my life, and…
Begin with what is true
As you learn things and adopt them, and the people in your life see how good they are for you, and that you're getting stronger and you're happier, they will instinctively be drawn to you. And I have to say, the people in my life, and I could note some very real stories for you, who have gotten better in the last 12 months, and who I think were genuinely encouraged to do so by me, were less so influenced by listening to me speak on a topic in an episode, and more influenced by seeing the topic of that episode influence me.
I think I gave an example maybe in an episode last year about my two youngest kids, age eight and six, sitting on the couch in the morning reading their Bibles, not because they were told to do so, not because they felt guilty for not doing it, but because over a period of three, four months, they had gotten up in the morning and the first thing they saw was mom and dad sitting on the couch reading their Bibles.
See God more clearly
Instead, he said, if we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. And by the way, with Gandhi and also the psychologist Jordan Peterson, they don't put any limits on that.
It would be easy to say, well, maybe that'll work with my marriage, maybe with my kids or people in my inner circle, but I can't change what's going on in my entire community just because I change.
Let faith shape the response
He says, handle your own business, and then you'll be surprised at how much good it can do. Well, he kind of berated her a little bit about the politically charged nature of her question and asked her to reword it.
And so a man on the panel reworded it for her and said, what she's saying is, what is your advice to young people whom you tell need to be individually responsible, but when there are things so far out of their control, like climate change, global economy, and the job market?
Live it today
Alright, so as we get to the end of today's topic, I just want you to think about your faith. There is nothing more significant in this world than being a light that shines reflecting the glory of Jesus, and as you brighten, the world around you begins to illuminate.
It is our purpose, it is the Word of God living in us, and all of the differences you want to make in helping people around you get to heaven begin with you.
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where does the central idea of “Be the Change You Want to See” show up most clearly in my life right now?
- 02What does this episode call me to believe, stop, start, or handle differently?
- 03What is one specific action I can take today instead of merely agreeing with the idea?
Listen to the original episode
This article was adapted from Be The Change. Continue with the podcast for the original teaching in Kris’s voice.
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