This morning, this pretty fella was just chilling in my favorite oak tree and I was once again reminded of something that God taught me through the seasons.

This is my favorite tree for a reason. It behaves in a strange manner unlike any tree I’ve ever really seen. In the fall, the leaves turn their expected beautiful auburn, but they do not fall off. It’s very odd. The leaves will remain on the tree and continue to shrivel and decay right on the branches. The tree is literally covered in a grayish wilting death for the entirety of fall and winter, until…

The new life from within pushes the old off.

I had this spiritual revelation a while back, but I am continually struck by its profound truth every year.

How many times are you absolutely disgusted with with your own behavior? It happens all too often to me, and I talk to people on a regular basis that share the same struggle. We give into temptations, we feed our addictions, and we behave in ways that are destructive to others and ourselves. It’s a never ending vicious cycle of screw up, guilt, shame, and regression. Metaphorically speaking, we are covered in a rotting death that seems impossible to get rid of. This is the curse of being a fallen being.

Sure, there are all sorts of ways to change our own behavior through learning, discipline, and shear will power. But, there are always strongholds in our life that we have no power in and of ourselves to overcome. The only way for this dead part of us to be removed is by a new life coming from within, to push the old off.

It’s only when we realize that no matter how much we hate our behavior and that we are powerless to change ourselves, and that it will take a power from outside of ourselves that we must tap into, will change actually happen.

Paul writes about this in Romans 7. He laments that “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. (Romans‬ ‭7:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

This doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. He continues his seemingly self hating monologue until he builds to a mighty declaration, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” leading into one of the greatest chapters on spiritual freedom and identity in Christ in the whole of scripture. (Romans 8)

In Christ, we are more than conquerors. It is only by His power working in me from the inside out, that the old dead part of me that I hate so much, begins to fall away. I could never change my behavior by hating myself, but my behavior and whole identity changed by simply loving my savior, surrendering my life to Him, and letting Him transform me. The end of my resources was the beginning of His.

It’s only when we realize that we are truly powerless, that we can access His ultimate power and life. Power to redeem, restore, and remake.

Power to remove death.

“And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Friends that ask you to continue your story after you were interrupted, make the world go round.

Jason