Change

Change

June 28, 2016

As we face change.  By "we" I refer to both you and me.  Maybe you wonder what sort of change I might be talking about.  Well, right now there is a lot of change.  For me, we look to once again crossing the country and joining a new ministry.  There is lots of change there, and uncertainties as well.  For the congrgation we leave, there is lots of change.  a minister to whom they have grown accustomed.  There is also plenty of uncertainty,

"Who will we get next?"

"What if we can't find anyone?"

"There is danger facing us when you leave!"

"What if?"

For the congregation we journey to,

"He looks good now, but will he fit here?"

"What if I don't like him?"

"What if?"

Oh, I nearly forgot about you.  Yes, I'm referring to you, those who are not part of the groups i have mentioned thus far.  you are facing some sort of change.  If not now then sometime in the near future you will face change.  Uncertainties abound in life.  We all ask at some point, "What if?"

I think we also, all too often, put ourselves through agony worrying about the effects of change for little or no reason.  We need a reminder of thelesson taught when Jesus scolded in His sermon on the Mount by asking, "Why do you worry?" Sometimes we worry for no other reason than we don't like the lack of control change often brings.

Sometimes, we just get too big for our britches.  I find this somewhat understandable, not condoned, but understandable.  After all, we are created in the image of God, so it would seem undeeerstandable that we would demonstrate some of His traits.  But, we need to remind ourselves that exerecising those traits is often like a child imitating a parent.  Cute, if it's like a little girl attempting to put on Mom's clothes and makeup.  Tragic, if it's like a little boy grabbing Dad's unsecured handgun.  All too often we take on God-sized projects when the uncertainty of change has comeupon us.  With our limited wisdom, coupled with our predeliction for corrupting what we try to control, this is a recipe for disaster.

Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders is a great lesson.  Talk about change!  Talk about uncertainties!  Talk about facing danger!  This scene in the 20th chapter of Acts has it all.  I am struck by Paul's calm, awed by the wisdom he shares, and humbled by the lesson.  Think about hisattitude, and compare it to your own;

"But I do not account my life of any value..."

I wonder how things would change, in God's favor, if we truly lived this as truth?  If we lived as if we were important, everyone else is more important, and god is the most important than I'm fairly confident things would tip farther in God's favor.

"...nor as precious to myself,"

Fear is a powerful thing.  If Paul had feared for himself on this journey that would eventually take him before Caesar, the rest of the New Testament story would be quite different.  The human tendency is to think of self as very precious.  The teaching and example of Christ and His disciples turns that concept upside down.

"if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,"

Just do the job.  Just run the race.  Just the part carved out for you - by Christ, by the way.  If you are the running back, don't try to be the quarterback.  If you are the receptionist, don't try to be company president.  Just do the job set out for you by Christ the King.  By the way,that means you don't try and do His job either.  That's a bit of what I referred to earlier, created in His image, being molded in his image, we have a tendency to adopt His passion for fixing things.  He's the fixer, we're the cog in his machine.  Try and do His job, and it looks more like the little boy with his Daddy's gun - tragic consequences.  Just do the job set out for you.

"...to testify to the gospelof the grace of God."

Funny how God uses the K.I.S.S. principle with us - Keep It Simple Stupid.  The Gospel is what it is all about.  the fix for everything has already been set in place - by the Fixer Himself.  The fix is nothing else we think important.  a new world is being ushered in - in God's time.  The Kingdom is already set up, all others will pass away - in God's time.  The morality is atrocious now,will apparently get worse before it gets better.  Perfect behavior will one day come, not by laws, but by love.

Just do the job.  Love people, think about yourself less, love God the most.  Testify to the Gospel.  Be God's cog, He takes care of the rest.