Last week I shared that I felt purposeless and inadequate as a child. On top of this, I was often frustrated and I disliked people. Besides my family, I didn't want to be around anybody.
This picture was taken the year I accepted Jesus into my life and started in the best friendship ever with the God of creation. Jesus immediately brought change into my life in so many ways.
First, He changed my feeling of inadequacy into a feeling of being valued by Him. He affirmed me, I felt seen and wanted.
Second, He changed my anger and frustration into joy and positivity. Because Jesus loves me, because Jesus wanted me to have a chance to have a relationship with Him so much that He died for me, because of who Jesus has created me to be - my heart is predisposed to joy and viewing things positively.
Lastly, Jesus changed my dislike of people to an absolute love for people and transformed my purposeless life into one with a calling to encourage and inspire others. I write/sign/speak/record/live to encourage people towards or in their relationship with Jesus.
Jesus came to bring change, be the change in us, and make change possible.
John begins His book by talking about Jesus even before He came as a baby. John states that Jesus is grace and truth, that’s who He is. Life is in Him and life was made through Him, this points to Jesus’ authority. Jesus is the true light in the darkness for everyone, this is why He came. Simeon and Anna were devoted to God and were often at the temple. When Jesus came for His regular baby purification, they met Him. They prophesied things about Him that aligned with what John wrote. A long while later, possibly thirty years, Jesus was at a wedding that ran out of wine. He asked for pots to be filled with water and then for someone to serve it. Jesus had changed water into wine. An act of change was the first miracle Jesus did.
Jesus brings change because: First, He is the light. He’s the light of the world, the light that guides our feet, the light for unbelievers to see, our dawning sun. Jesus as the light reveals truths about ourselves and the world, brings us hope, sends out our fears, and allows us to clearly see and be productive. Second, is because He’s full of grace and truth. Jesus is our light, our change, for He knows we can’t change on our own. The Law shows us our need for Jesus’ sacrifice to clean us from our sin and for His Spirit in us to help us change to be like Him. Jesus sacrificed His life for us through His grace and truth. Third, Jesus brings change because through Him we can be children of God. Not only did Jesus come to bring us an opportunity for new life, but to also be changed from enemies of God to His adopted kids.
Here’s how to resist Jesus’ change: Neglect the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit was active in both Simeon and Anna who fasted, prayed, praised, and were devoted to God; neglecting these actions will limit your desire for change. Think that change isn’t something to value – Not only did Jesus bring change, but it’s valued so much by Him that change was involved in His first miracle. Hide Jesus’ light – You do this when you don’t invite Jesus into a situation or avoid talking about Him, try to shine His light in every environment you’re in.
God’s Guidance:
John 1:3-5 (NIV) – “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:9 (NIV) – “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
John 1:12-13 (NIV) – “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:16-17 (NIV) – “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Luke 2:25-26 (NIV) – “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.”
Luke 2:28-32 (NIV) – “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.””
Luke 2:34-35 (NIV) – “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.””
Luke 2:36-38 (NIV) – “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
John 2:7-8 (NIV) – “Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.””
John 2:9-11 (NIV) – “and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”
Psalm 119:105 (NIV) – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV) – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Romans 5:10 (NIRV) – “Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives.”
Application:
1. Read Luke 2:22-40, John 1:1-18, John 2:1-12, that’s about 9 verses a day
2. Spend time nourishing the Holy Spirit by praying, fasting, praising, or devoting something to God
3. Remember to pray over the people and environments you will encounter and enter each day, invite Jesus and His Spirit of change to be present through all your situations
Strength Point:
Jesus brings change to any situation like a light does in darkness.
Reflection Question:
How has Jesus brought change into your life?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for bringing change into the world and into my life. You have the power and goodness to change anything and anyone! I’m sorry for trying to resist the change You put into motion. I pray that my heart would truly desire Your change in both myself and in all the environments I enter throughout my life. Take my hurt, hardened, __ heart and soften and heal it. Let my fear and __ be changed into courage and __ in Your name, Jesus! Transform the way I think to be aligned with what You value. Help me to trade the darkness, by which I view my circumstances, relationships, and life through, with Your amazing light. Remind me to invite You into every situation, so that change and refreshment can be possible. Thank You for being a life-changing, world-transforming God. You are the light of the world and the light of my life! I love You, God! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for bringing change into the world and into our lives. You have the power and goodness to change anything and anyone! Help my friend to not resist the change You put into motion. I pray that their heart would truly desire Your change in both their self and in all the environments they enter throughout their life. Take my friend’s hurt, hardened, guarded heart and soften and heal it. Let their fear and doubt be changed into courage and faith in Your name, Jesus! Transform the way my friend thinks to be aligned with what You value. Help them to trade the darkness, by which they view their circumstances, relationships, and life through, with Your amazing light. Remind them to invite You into every situation, so that change and refreshment can be possible. Thank You for being a life-changing, world-transforming God. You are the light of the world and the light of our lives! I love You, God! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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