There’s an old saying, “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” As believers in Christ Jesus, we are called to change. Join me this week and consider some aspects of change in our lives as we walk with the Lord. Is there anything that you need changed?

Never Say “Never!”

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 

Acts 9:13-14, NLT

“She’ll never change!” Have you ever said that about someone? Would it flip your weave to find out that she really had changed? We sometimes forget, even as believers who have been changed, that God has the power to change people! Maybe you’ve been labeled incapable of change or even believe it about yourself. But is that true?

Saul was a man changed by the Lord. His dramatic conversion, from a murderous, enemy of believers, to a follower of Christ himself, is told in Acts 9.

“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” … Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.” (Acts 9:3-9 NLT)

Read today’s Dose verse. Ananias was the believer whom God instructed to go find Saul (the new believer) and lay hands on him to receive the Holy Spirit.

God had changed Saul but Ananias had a hard time believing that Saul had really changed. I bet he thought, “This is the guy you want me to go befriend, pray for, and restore to sight? Come on, Lord, You know that Saul guy is straight craycray! He’s been killing us at the rapid rate!” I can understand his fear, can’t you? That kind of guy doesn’t ever really change, does he? But, he does indeed, if his heart is willing. God is all about changing people with willing hearts to be more like Jesus Christ. Once Ananias reached out to Saul and spent time with him, he found out that Saul really had changed.

We don’t need to reach the point of murderous intentions to realize change but we do need to reach the point where we believe that God can change anyone and will do so for those whose hearts are willing.

Dear one, do you believe you can never change? It’s not true. Be encouraged today in knowing that nobody is beyond God’s reach to change.

By grace through faith,

Rita

[Read Acts 9:1-31 for more of this story of Saul]