Saturday, March 14, 2015
Matthew 21:28-29 What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard." "I will not," he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE YOU!
As you read the title to this devotion you might be thinking about how much you'd like to change the people in your life. But guess what? You can't change them. You can nag at them. Threaten them! You can manipulate them into doing what you want them to do, but you can't change them. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. All we can do is bring people the Word of God and pray the Spirit work the changes!
So, since I can't change anyone and neither can you, let's concentrate on us. What needs to change in you and me? What changes does God want to see?
When I make a list of things that I need to change, it's depressing. What's really depressing is that I'm sure there are dozens of other needed changes I could list, but that I'm too blind to see. I'm so thankful for the Bible passage where David prays: "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults" (Psalm 19:12).
But it is a healthy thing to do, to look at oneself as a parent, spouse, worker, neighbor, church member, and see where we are falling short. It's healthy because it reminds us, first and foremost, how much we need our Savior. It's also healthy because it's humbling, and will help us treat others more patiently. It's helpful because an honest confession of sin is an open door for God to work the changes only He can work.
Let's take our list of sins and shortcomings and place them at the foot of Jesus' cross. Let's give all that is wrong in our hearts and lives to the ONLY ONE who can wash it all away. It was on the cross where He made full atonement for hearts and lives stained by sin. It's done. Debt paid in full. On Easter morning, God declared it to be so!
Let's you and I quit trying to change, and turn to God do the job for us.
