“The only thing that is constant is change”
How many of you have heard that quote before?
In my church it has become a mantra we live by. The one thing
you can expect in this life is change. We cannot escape change.
Change is a part of life but there is problem or ‘was’ a problem.
I never liked change!
I fought it with all I had. It was crazy. 🙂
As time has gone by my relationship with change has improved.
Please note, I have used the word “improved”.
I have gotten much better when change has happened.
And this year I decided I would step it up even more. Instead of
dreading change I would welcome it. I would go with the flow, I
would throw myself into the change that was happening instead
of resisting it.
As I look back at all the change that has happened in my life
I can see how difficult it has been.
From a change of friends, to a change in career, to a change
of environment and so on it’s been hard. I guess that is why
I didn’t like change.
It’s always been testing, it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone,
it’s made me change the way I think and the way I see things,
it’s pushed me to change how I do things.
I want to share a scripture with you,
“And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied
on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything
in common;
And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and
their movable goods) and distributed the price among all,
according as any had need.
And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with
united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including
the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and
simplicity and generous hearts,
Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all
the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily
those who were being saved [from spiritual death].”
Acts 2:44-47
What an amazing picture of the new testament saints. Things
were really going well for them.
- They sold their goods and distributed the money among
those who had need
- They assembled regularly in the temple with united purpose
- They broke bread in their homes
- They praised God and the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.
Like I said, things were going really well for them. Some amazing
things were happening in their midst.
Did the saints know things would change?
Did they think the way they were living at that moment in time
would always be?
But things did change. Let’s look at another scripture,
“And Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s] death [he was
pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe
persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem;
and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).”
Acts 8:1
After Stephen was killed a severe persecution broke out and the
church in Jerusalem had to scatter.
Was the change pleasant? No!
Was it something anyone expected? No!
But this is what I want you to see that God showed me about
change. In the midst of the change God was with the saints!
He never left them. Change in this context seemed
disastrous but God’s will prevailed!
God showed me He would be with me through whatever change
that came my way. No matter the change
I had no reason to fear because He was right by my side.
He always has a plan in the midst of change.
He won’t abandon me when change happens.
When change happens I need to look to Him to guide me,
help me and preserve me!
Be comforted friends. You might be going through change but
know that God is with you in the change and that’s what matters.
The enemy may have other plans for the change but
that won’t come to reality because Jesus is with us.
We don’t need to fear change anymore because we will never
be alone in it!
Remember this when you are going through a change,
Jesus being with you though the change is the most important
thing about change.
Bless you friends
Rolain
kingspeech 