3:129 – Be The Change You Want To See

#faithbites #faithjourney change

There is a lot of anger in the world. People killed for asking someone to wear a mask. Black American’s killed for jogging, bbqing, and just living. Conspiracy theories running rampant. So much negativity in the world, but there is hope.

Today, I was about to throw my dishes into the sink rather than put them in the dishwasher. (Stay with me here). I knew later on I would have to put all those dirty dishes into the dishwasher. So instead of putting it off until later, I did it then. Ok, what does this have to do with the horrors I mentioned before? You have a choice to act. Just like you can choose to be happy, you can choose to act.

A friend of mine said that she hopes she can be the change that she and I envision her being in the future. Here’s the thing, we plant seeds for the future without knowing for sure if the harvest will come. We know that if we don’t plant, there will be no harvest. We take a chance on the harvest, but with the help of God it will come through. If we don’t act, nothing happens.

Scripture

• Isaiah 58:1 – “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.”
• Ephesians 6:13 – Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
• 2 Corinthians 1:24 – Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

Reflection

There is a lot to unpack here, so let’s get started. First, we can’t sit back and do nothing. If we don’t lift up our voices, in kindness and love, to help others, we are not planting the seeds. We may not change their minds, but failure to act guarantees it. At the same time, making the change we want to see in the world, won’t be easy. We can’t do it by ourselves, and we need help. That is where the Armor of God comes in. We be fully prepared for the battle to come.

The thief comes to kill and destroy (John 10:10). He wants us to have divisions amongst us and not speak up. A saying misattributed to Edmund Birk: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Can can’t do nothing. We also see in Galatians, that while we don’t need works for salvation, we do the works to show our faith and make the change we want to be.

I am not a minority nor have I faced the same persecution that many have. (There is a story of my past before I converted when I was hurt for being Jewish but that’s for another day). I don’t know what it’s like to worry about being killed jogging, shot in my apartment, deported, or injured. What we can do is sing the praises of our Lord, put on His armor, and fight for change.

Challenge

What change do you want to see? How will you start? Write one item and one action. That is it. Put it somewhere visible and keep referencing it. The harvest can’t come if you don’t plant.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you have a much different view of what this world should be than what it is. Empower us to take the actions we need to make change. You have given us the tools, the armor, and the people, now we just need to act. You have told us it will be hard but with your presence and strength we can do it. When we falter, hold us up. When we stop walking, push us forward. You are the light for us, let us follow you. In your name, Amen.