Change

In Mark Chapter 2:18-22 Some people came to Jesus and they were asking the why question. Why are your followers doing things differently? Why aren't they doing the same thing everybody else is doing? Jesus' answer is great!

Jesus answered them with parables, but he was making a point! He is Basically saying "They are willing to change because they are not worshiping methods and systems, they are worshiping me!"

Some very good people who were walking the streets with Jesus were not willing to change because they were caught up in the methods and systems... they were comfortable because they felt as though they were doing something great and sacrificial... they were unwilling to change their processes even though Jesus was standing right there with them.
Their systems were created to point them towards Him and they had their head in the sand and missed that He was right there! They would not change anything and missed what God was doing right there among them. They had become very comfortable with the systems and methods and they were very self-confident.

So the question for us is... "Do we sometimes miss what God is trying to show us because we become comfortable with our systems and methods?" I am not for changing things for the sake of changing them, but I don't want to get caught up in doing things a certain way because everybody else is doing it that way or because that is the way it's always been done.

Change is not a bad thing! I will be writing on this over the next few days, but let me start with this ...

Why do we resist change? ... Some things I wrote in my journal ...

1) Change is Hard
2) Change is Challenging
3) Change Requires Thinking
4) Change is Uncomfortable
5) Change is not Always Popular
6) Change is Risky
7) Change will Usually Cost You Something

Change...

We have been changing some processes and ministries around at Barefoot Church. We are always doing this... it is part of our culture at Barefoot.

Whenever we change things in our home, workplace, or relationships, we will get a little push back from others. Change makes things a little uncomfortable for all of us, but I have found that change is one of the greatest ways to grow people and get to the next level in our lives.

I was praying about this last Friday morning while I was running on the beach. Here are a few things that came to my mind about change. It was as the Lord was impressing upon my heart... "Push through the push back" because:

Change is great… It propels the vision forward.
Change is great... It keeps everyone alert.
Change is great... It allows others opportunity.
Change is great... It keeps everything fresh.
Change is great... It allows growth, strength and builds courage.
Change is great... Don't be afraid to change.

These are a few thoughts about change... It seems hard, but change is good for all of us. Change makes us think and change will refocuses us on why we do what we do. Is God leading you to change something today?