Loving people is risky business. It’s a high risk/reward affair. We were created in love to receive love & give love. Take a chance on love! 
Ah yes, transformation is the key. The Holy Spirit initiates change from the inside out. It is a beautiful metamorphosis. God transforms the heart and then renews the mind. Behavioral change flows out of identity acceptance.
We accept what God has done at the core of our being and our minds are flooded with a new reality. As God ushers in this new paradigm we are freed from the bondage of our pasts and can embrace change.
This is painful though and sadly many live their lives in a vicious cycle of “pain avoidance”. It is even taught within the church. People have come to believe that God would never want us to suffer or experience pain of any kind.
The truth however is that authentic transformation is birthed in pain. We outgrow the cocoon of self as we blossom into magnificent new creations. Breaking through is an arduous process.
We must ask ourselves what is worse though. Is it better to remain trapped in the former self or to break through? Remaining will only mean death, but breaking through will allow us to fly.
I will choose the pain that allows me to soar. What about you?
Great post man. I agree that any good change is usually birthed out of pain. I think of when my wife had both of our children. After she gave birth and had gone through excruciating pain, she said it was totally worth the pain, because new and vibrant life was the result of it. Good stuff man. Love it.
So true. When sin is exposed it creates a great deal of pain whether it’s personal pain or pain that others have to handle for us. It allows us to break through and experience true freedom when it gets exposed.