Begin With Yourself

2 Corinthians 6:1-3 – As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation.

Our Youth Group was watching Chicken Soup Live, a portion on Self-Esteem, and the actor talked about a wasted life of seeking change, transforming the world (which is often the dream of the young). Only in old age was the realization made that the self must first be transformed before a world can follow suit. It reminded me of Willimon Willimon's words,

… how people change the world depends on who they are, on what type of character they embody. The changes they affect in the world will be the result of how they themselves have been changed, on how tight the tension is in their own lives between the way things are and the way God wants things to be, on their ability to hope even in the midst of the world's hopelessness…

Are you ready for a transformation in your life and the consequences that change might have on the world around you, especially in your family, in your church, in the wider community?

Prayer: Gracious God, give me an attitude problem today. Let me forever and always be dissatisfied with the world the way it is and dedicate myself to its transformation. God, if it's okay with you, could we begin right now … with me? Amen.