Leave It To Jesus

I am very eager to see change.

Change in myself, change in my loved ones, change in those who belong to the Body of Christ and change in those yet to become a part.  I am very eager indeed to witness this change.  I appreciate such a change is never straightforward and all that easy.  I appreciate that change is uncomfortable and unsettling.  I appreciate that change should be done carefully and considerately whilst also looking to be faithful to God who calls the change to take place.

I appreciate it, and I am still very eager to witness it.

I rejoice in the occasions that I’ve seen it take place.  It’s great when it takes place in my life.  It is sweet when it happens in the life of my wife and of course with young children at various stages of growth and development it’s fascinating seeing that.  It remains one of the highest thrills of my life to see people outside the family experience real deep change.

Today, however, I was somewhat frustrated as I came across another of the realities of life in Christ.  When you are doing things – teaching, preaching, sharing, caring – the impact of that is not always seen there and then.  The lesson is to leave the change to Jesus.  Leave it to God through His Holy Spirit to effect the change in His time and according to His purposes.  That will take place in due course.  That will not happen as we deliver the information for transformation.  Indeed if the parable of the sower teaches us anything, sometimes the look of someone who has immediately grasped a concept and appears to be on the way to living it out, may actually just be the prelude to a flash-in-the-pan spiritual experience.  A flash that quickly whimpers in the light of life-challenges.

Once again, then, I learn that it is just important to be faithful in sharing what you’ve been told to share and be an example of that which you share so others will see the demonstration of your declaration and follow Jesus as a result.  Just do my bit, and not force the issue on expecting others to immediately do theirs.

I’m not in charge.  Jesus is.  So it’s about leaving it to Jesus.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd