It seems modern evangelicalism has come to a place of encouraging people to pursue life-change as a goal, and that closeness to Jesus would be the fruit.

What I’m learning is that the early church (many of whom actually knew Jesus) was called explicitly to pursue Jesus as the goal, and knowing that any fruit of obedience was from Him, through Him, and to Him.

“Come ye, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.  I always considered that to be only an evangelistic statement.  I think maybe Jesus meant it to be his daily banner over me.  Daily rest in the unmerited grace of Jesus.  How many people are experiencing that?  It’s actually pretty counter-cultural these days.