The Messy Work of Change
I don't know many people who like change; although I like to change my wardrobe now and then. I even change my hair style once in a while! Change is a part of life. We begin changing the minute we are born.
My little grandson Isaac has changed so much in his first year of life. He's gone from a small infant in his mother's arms needing every single thing provided for him to a walking, talking toddler. He still needs his mother's help, but is learning to feed himself and pick up the things he wants to play with.
Our lives change from day one to the day we die. I've spoken to many people lately who wish they could go back a little in time to a younger age when health was no problem. Many senior folk wish they could regain a few of those years of family all around them once again. But the reality is that life is continually changing around us and within us.
Sometimes change is for good; such as education, new friends, or new achievements. So many of the people here in Bella Vista have come from somewhere else. That means they made a big change in their life by leaving what was home and creating a new home here.
Within that change is a lot of paper work yes, but also comes meeting new friends, seeing new sights, maybe beginning some new hobbies. As we age, our activities may change, our wardrobe may change and even our hairstyle may change. But I ask you to consider that even God wants you to change.
God calls us to surrender the things that harm us or the things in our life that block or hinder our relationship with Him. We have been created in His image and many times the image of our actions, or the words of our mouth do not reflect the image of God within us.
The letter to the Colossians in the New Testament of the Bible tells us a lot about what God desires to be doing in you, to change you to be more like Christ our Savior.
Why should we want to be more like Christ? Because God the Father has created you in His image and God the Son has come to show you how to live a life pleasing to the Father and He sent the Holy Spirit to help us in our everyday walk as believers and children of God.
Colossians 3: 7-10 -- "You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."
God calls us to change and become new in knowledge, understanding and as a witness of the goodness, love, forgiveness, mercy and grace that He has poured out upon us.
May these words make you stop and consider how God may be calling you to change and be renewed by the Holy Spirit's leading to become closer in your relationship with Him, to become a better witness in this world for Him. Pray hard and keep the faith, Pastor Sue Metcalf.
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Metcalf is pastor of Forest Hills Church, an American Baptist congregation. Email her at [email protected].
Religion on 01/28/2015