It Makes a Difference

Do you like helping people move forward to a better life?  I absolutely love it when I can be a part of somebody improving their quality of living.  Now allow me to rant for a moment.  There is little that bugs me more than wasting my time attempting to help make a difference for someone who isn’t willing to change how they approach things.  The definition of stupidity is to continue the same approach yet expect difference results.  Before I continue, let me make clear that I am not saying that having problems, making mistakes, or experiencing hardship due to past choices, is stupid.  What I am saying is that to desire change, yet remain unwilling to seek and work for a change of approach, is by definition stupid. 

 

If you are offended that a pastor would speak this boldly, consider what Jesus said in Luke 11:40:

 

Luke 11:40  (NLT) –  Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?

 

In fact, Jesus called some religious leaders who refused to change; not only fools, but he called them blind guides and snakes.  He went so far as to say that their father was a liar because their father was the devil.

 

I call that bold!

 

Jesus loved to help those who truly wanted a better life and was determined to help those who would strive to become different.

 

1 Peter 2:8-9 (NLT) – And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.  9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

This verse is saying that those who are really his followers don’t approach things like the world, they are different.  As followers we are not perfect.  What makes us different is how we approach life.  We take up our cross and daily follow Jesus.  We commit ourselves to becoming a member of His church, fitting in and connecting with others.  In fact, that is what our new series; “Difference Makers” is all about.  Our lives are made different (better) through serving others.  That is a different approach than the world and it’s not natural which is why we need each other.  You are gifted and called as a believer, but you must follow the way.

 

John 14:6 (NLT) – Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

 

I am excited at all I see the Holy Spirit doing in the lives of our church and I believe the best is yet to come.  This is why I love my church.

 


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