When Rules Are Not Enough

Can a leopard truly change his spots?

That question from Jeremiah 13:23 presses on every parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor, pastor, and friend who has ever prayed for someone they love to change. We long for our children to grow in wisdom. We long for our students to walk in self-control. We long for adult children to return to Christ. We long for cold spouses, wandering friends, and weary church members to be renewed in faith. But wanting change and being changed are not the same thing.