WHAT CAUSED THE CHANGE

WHAT CAUSED THE CHANGE?

Acts 26:18

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

           Paul testified before Agrippa that Christ had commissioned him to a lifelong effort to convert men. Certain specific changes would define conversion. First, there would be a change of view. Their eyes would be opened so that they might clearly see things as they really are. Next, they would be changed from darkness (“shadiness”) to light. The power (“mastery”) of Satan would be broken and men would then be at liberty to serve God. Sins would be forgiven and a new life of not sinning would begin.

Former atheist, Lee Stroble, tells that his young daughter told her mother: “Mom, I want what God has done to daddy!” This is the observable change that takes place when men are converted. Specifically, conversion is a change in the thoughts, desires, dispositions and behavior of a sinner. He changes his mind about right and wrong. His appetite changes and he begins to crave good and right things instead of wicked and damaging habits. The Bible refers to him as a “new man” (Eph. 2:15; 4:24).

In my desire to discover a reason or a pattern for conversion, I often miss miracles. As I ask what caused the change, I miss the blessing of the change itself. True conversion is due to the working of the Holy Spirit upon the heart and mind of an individual. It is personal and therefore defies being pressed into a formula. The specific circumstances needed to bring one to conversion will not necessarily be needed for another. When it happens it is mysterious and marvelous.

Mark 5:15

15 And they come to Jesus, and see (saw) him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Dear Lord, let your Holy Spirit apply the pressures and circumstances necessary to bring conversion. AMEN

FRIENDSHIP MAINTENANCE

FRIENDSHIP MAINTENANCE!

John 6:66-68

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Zech 13:6

6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Prov 18:24

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

John 15:14-15

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

           Our many verses this morning shows Jesus’ great desire to become friendly with His followers. Merriam-Webster defines “friend” as: “One who is attached to another by respect or affection; one who is not hostile.” In John chapter 6 Jesus tried to present a very difficult truth. It was not understood and not well received and so many of the disciples “walked no more with him.” We can hear the pain and disappointment in Jesus’ voice when he asks in verse 67, “will ye also go away?”

           Sometimes a friend will walk away because we have offended them. Maybe we are aware of the reason for the rift but often we are made to guess. Our friend simply walks away. Sometimes our career moves us from one part of the country to another and we simply lose touch. There is no problem except we are no longer nearby. Nevertheless, there is a lonesome hole in our heart that our friend once occupied. We feel incomplete and wonder if they feel the same way.

           Jesus is that friend that sticks closer than a brother. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Friends like that are hard to come by and when we find one, they become precious to us. Yet many of us do not treat this special friend in a friendly manner. We do not walk with Him or follow His ways. We do not talk with Him in prayer. We become detached by questioning His principles and our respect and affection for Him is weakened.

           Devotionals, such as this, are really methods of friendship maintenance. We renew our friendship when we review the main points of our agreement. We rehearse those things we mutually love. We stare deeply into one another’s face so that, even when parted, we can recall the image. How is your relationship with Jesus? Are you on friendly terms? Why not reconnect with this old friend today?

Dear Lord, lonely are the moments when I can’t perceive your presence in my life. There is a sort of pain deep within until once again we are reunited. Do not let me stray too far from you today. Stick close to me like a brother. AMEN

TAP TO SNOOZE

TAP TO SNOOZE!

Prov 24:33-34

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

           My cell phone has replaced my alarm clock. It has also replaced my camera, but that is another topic! The phone actually has a snooze button – well, not so much a button, but a feature that allows you to tap the touch screen to catch a few more minutes of sleep before the alarm sounds again. I rarely use it but when I do I use it more than once because I’m tired.

           Sleep is a beneficial gift of God but in the Bible, sleep can often be a reference to our desire to begin a difficult day or to avoid certain responsibilities. This is what Solomon refers to in today’s text. A difficult task does not become less difficult just because we tap to snooze!

           Like a woman in labor to deliver, the baby will come and will not be delayed. Like an armed intruder, poverty comes by slow and stealthy steps unless we rise to defeat it.

Rom 13:11

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute,
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.

Dear Lord, although weary, let me labor in Thy strength today. AMEN