God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. Romans 2:4 (MSG)

My wife and I sat in the living room last night and had a great conversation with our daughter. As she journies through the first year of marriage, and the many issues that emerge as two young lives merge into one, it caused me to look back at my own experiences.

I’m not the same person I was at 20. The core of who I am hasn’t changed, but I feel the distinct changes which have occurred as I’ve followed Jesus. I’d like to think that I’m more gracious and less judgemental, more loving and less spiteful, more humble and less proud, more generous and less self-centered, a little wiser and tad less foolish, more like Jesus and less like the person I was then.

Jesus has been kind to me beyond what I deserved, but He hasn’t always been soft. Following requires hard choices, hard lessons, and hard changes. He didn’t promise the way would be easy.

Today, I’m asking Jesus to continue the radical life change He began in me, and thanking Him that the process isn’t finished.