Making a Change or other’s making it for you
Make a change. It takes change
I have a few miles under my belt, as a 52-Year-old Youth Minister, some might say a few marathons but that would be rude, true but is it necessary to state the obvious on this one?
I jokingly mention miles, and marathons. I was a runner but never a marathoner. Throughout my life of running coaches would also challenge or comment (most of the time I didn’t want to hear what they had to say) on to be a better runner you need to make changes, to be a faster runner you need to make changes… etc. etc. etc. Yeah, yeah as a young guy, I didn’t want to hear it. I knew what I knew, and it was enough, but it didn’t get me to the change and had a expense to it, that expense was no state meet in track.
I have a few days under my belt, as a 52-Year-old Youth Minister, some might say a few years (decades) but that would be rude, true but is it necessary to state the obvious on this one?
Sound familiar? If not, please go to paragraph one and read again. I could say easily I knew what I knew, and it was enough, but it didn’t get me to the change I needed.
As I completed a daily devotion from the Experiencing God: day to day Journal, the topic flooded my mind. It spoke on Suffering for Others, and how ministry is costly, as is life. Life has some expenses; I am not speaking of ministry as in paid pastoral ministry I am speaking of life ministry. One of the verses was Romans 5:8, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” WOW! God proving his love, His Son died. Did I die to myself to accomplish the running goals? NO! Did I die to myself in the younger years of change? NO! As I get older, I am beginning to see the value of change. It isn’t easy! Suffering for others isn’t easy either. I assume giving your Son for people not worthy of that isn’t easy either.
The devotion goes on to speak of going through expenses (like rejection, understanding, doubters, and even being opposed). The expenses are huge and costly but so is seeing friends, loved ones perish for eternity. The expense are huge and costly but so is seeing your church or group or community slowly move from Jesus risking to comfort keeping. I am guilty of it all the time. My comfort zone might seem missing but trust me. I have one, God continually pushes into it regularly. So what?
I would simply say SO this… are you willing to risk the comfort of today for the unknown future of tomorrow, a future that might bring more to Jesus, more success to you, your community, church company? It comes down to a choice to make change or be subject to others change. The cost is high but so is eternity.
I hope you join me in the journey of change facing and change making one day, one mile at a time.
It's just my junk 