“Because that’s how we’ve always done it!” This is a phrase we hear a lot in the church and in our world. We are people of tradition and we often cling to what is comfortable. It’s why the Jews who became followers of Jesus tried to force the Gentile believers to follow the Laws of Moses. Because after all…That’s what followers of God had always done.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us that: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Jesus doesn’t change, because He is perfect and He always has been. From the beginning of time through eternity, he was, is, and always shall be. You can’t make perfect more perfect, because it’s already perfect!
Now we, on the other hand, are a totally different story. We are imperfect people and from the beginning of humanity and our fall on this earth, God has been working to transform each of us from the inside out. By the renewing of our minds He is seeking to transform us into the men and women that He is calling us to be.
In order for that to happen, though, we have to be open to change. We have to be willing to admit that we are imperfect and we don’t have all the answers. Oftentimes our perspective is skewed and we need to be willing to let God change our thoughts and our view. Which means “that’s how we’ve always done it!” doesn’t work anymore.
The disciples’ lives were turned upside down as they began to realize that this Kingdom they had heard about for so many years was nothing like they imagined. Are we allowing God to turn our world upside down? Or are we clinging to the familiar and comfortable things that for years have actually held us back? Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” God wants to do a new thing in all of our lives. The question is…are we willing to change?
thesimplemindedpastor.com 