When God Blesses, Part 3

What keeps us from making change? I think when it comes down two it there are two big reasons that change is so hard.

The first is fear of change. Most of us are afraid of change because change brings discomfort, change makes us feel awkward and incompetent. We fear change because it moves us out of our comfort zone. We would rather deal with the problems we have instead of venturing into the unknown and unfamiliar. We are afraid of change because we want to protect our status, our status quo, our agendas, and our influence.

As I was thinking about this it struck me that all this really boils down to not fully trusting God. That may be a hard thing to admit. But that’s really it isn’t it?

What God wanted Abraham to do was not pleasant (circumcision). You could argue it wasn’t really all that necessary. He could have asked for a sign of acceptance of His covenant that was less personal and awkward. But God brings us to the crossroads where He requires change because He wants to know that we trust Him.

Are we following Him wherever He leads, or are we only willing to go as far as we are comfortable?

The second is our own lack of commitment to the call we have been given in Christ. There is a big difference between trying to be like Jesus and training to be like Jesus. God does not want us to try to be like Jesus. That is not going to work. We need to be committed to training to be like Jesus. Training for anything takes effort, it takes commitment, it takes work. One of the main road blocks we are facing in the church of America in general is that there are two few people who are committed to training to be like Jesus.

This reminds me of that movie The Karate Kid. At one point Mr. Miage explained things like this, “Right side safe. Left side safe. Middle squish just like grape. Do or do not. There is no try.” We need to come to the point where we decide to stop trying and start training if we are going to lead like Jesus and have His blessings in our lives, homes, and church.

What is God asking you to change in your life so that He can bless you more?

We need to be willing to follow to God’s leadership. We need to be looking for and discerning God’s leadership through prayer, time alone with God, study of the Word, and worship and fellowship together as God’s family, so we can confidently lead like Jesus in our families as well as in our church.

We need to put our trust in Him. Not in our abilities. Not in our numbers. Not in our programs. Not in our money or resources. Not in any of us or any other Christian leader, pastor, or teacher. There is only one place to put our trust for our purpose, direction, provision, and success. That is the God of Abraham. The God who showed his love and commitment to us by sending Jesus Christ into the world as one of us. The God who has given His Spirit to each of us who call on Him for salvation. God says in Isaiah 43:1-13 (NLT),

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
“You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God—there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the LORD.
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

Put your trust in the Lord. Follow His leadership. Be willing to change. And you will see His blessings come from places you never thought possible and in measures you could not have imagined.