Day 13 - The Law of Change | Our King and the Kingdom of God 21-Day Devotional
Sometimes, those of us who claim to know God have the most difficulty changing. Why is this? It may be because we presume that our relationship with Him is so profound that we have somehow been elevated to a changeless state. Be careful that you do not start thinking that you don’t have to change.
The fact is this: There is good change and bad change. There is change that you need and change that you don’t need. There are things the must change and things that must not change. Sometimes change is genuine and sometimes change is staged.
Definition of change: Make or become different; make or become a different substance entirely; transform; alter; take or use another instead of; move from one to another; remove (something dirty or faulty) and replace it with another of the same kind; The substitution of one thing for another.
Jesus shared a parable about two sons. These two sons looked like us and everyday people. I’ll call them Billy and Bob. When asked to go work in the vineyard, Billy said “No,” but later changed his mind and went. Bob said “Yes,” but did not go.
Billy changed and Bob did not.
Why did Billy change his mind? He changed his mind because he recognized that he had a responsibility and an obligation to his father. He respected and loved his father. He loved his father more than his own unwillingness to work. Billy also recognized that working in the vineyard was a part of his purpose for that season in his life.
Why did Bob say he would go, but did not? Bob was a lazy and a liar. Bob represents one of the worse aspects of human nature. Not only did Bob not change, he tried to give the impression that he was faithful and committed. Today, Bob was the kind of person who will waste your time, money, and energy because you prepare for Bob, but he doesn’t show up.
Jesus used this parable to admonish His own Jewish people who thought their history and heritage somehow gave them an inroad to God ahead of others. However, all people, Christians, non-Christians, people from Christian homes or not, we all must CHANGE in order to follow God––and He gives grace to change. Whatever God requires, He provides.
In reality, what Billy did was REPENT. We know it because he changed his mind. The word repent means to “change one’s mind” and go in another direction.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
Change occurs when we experience a convergence of three factors:
1) Our willingness to go in a new way
2) The light of God’s knowledge
3) Death of the old way
The Law of Change: Everyone and everything that is short of God’s standard of perfection must change. God’s perfection provides us a firm foundation for change. We continue to grow and change until Jesus returns.
Reflection Question:
1. In what ways do you need to change?
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1. In what ways do you need to change?
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