Change

Change--it is all around us.

We see it in creation with the seasons. We see it in a day's time period with light and darkness. We see it with the different landscapes of the earth that God created (flat grassland to mountains). We see it humans--baby, toddler, child, teenager, adult, aging adult. And the list could go on....

Our family was blessed with the birth of our second son three weeks ago, which has really sent me down a time of reflection of my life. From growing up in a small town in the Texas panhandle, to college in Lubbock, to getting married to a wonderful man, to moving to the "city" (Houston), to moving to Tennessee, welcoming our first-born, and now our second, I have seen friends come and go, I have been in spiritual highs, and spiritual lows, it has been nothing but CHANGE.

What impact does the word change have on a Christian? It should be everything! Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ now lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." He goes on in Ephesians 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." Does your life reflect change? Have you died to yourself? Have you changed to be an imitator of God in every aspect of your life---your speech, your dress, your relationships? With every breath you take, are you Christ-like?

A passage in Hebrews 10:19-25 is a great resource for this word. Read carefully....

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus by anew and living way which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as in the manners of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching.

What can we take from this?

C: Consider one another....Have you ever noticed that when you take "less" attention to yourself and put more on others, CHANGE will occur! Stir up those good works! (10:24)

H: Hope...If your hope is in Christ, why should you not be a CHANGED person? There is nothing to fear because HE is FAITHFUL! (10:23)

A: Assembly....assemble with one other. When you spend time with people assembling together, they can hold you accountable! We are told here that you shouldn't forsake this!! (10:25)

N: Near...Draw NEAR to God with a true heart. Your heart will be sprinkled with protection from evil! (10:22)

G: Grateful....WE can enter heaven because of the blood of Jesus. WE CAN enter heaven because of the blood of Jesus. WE CAN ENTER heaven because of the blood of Jesus. WE CAN ENTER HEAVEN because of the blood of Jesus. We have every reason to be grateful. (10:19)

E: Educate! Educate! Educate! How do you expect to change if you don't know what you are to do? We have a life instruction manual right there ready to use, but do you know it?
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9
There is no sugar-coating here. If you do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, you do not have God. Make sure you know the very words that were inspired by our Heavenly Father!

Be a CHANGED person today!