Change With A Purpose

Hebrews 7:18 – Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. (NLT)

Change isn't easy for most folks, but when it has a purpose, well …

Gossip had driven the previous pastor to another venue. During the interim period, the church had dwindled to around thirty faithful attendees. When the leaders interviewed a prospective pastor and invited him to take the helm, he said, "Here's what I plan to do if I come."

Change is difficult for any church, but small rural churches often find it even more challenging. But they knew that if they didn't change, death for their church was just around the corner. They agreed to his goals and called him as their pastor. Soon, attitudes made a radical shift. People were excited about coming to church and about what was going to happen next, perhaps because the changes had a purpose: to transform a dying church back into a living, breathing organism that was making a difference for God's kingdom.

Today's Scripture passage was written to people who had inherited a several-thousand-year-old tradition: the Levitical priesthood. Men were selected from the tribe of Levi to tend to the temple, to offer sacrifices for the people, and to make intercession to God on behalf of the people. Now God — through Jesus Christ — had changed all that. Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The old system was good for a time, but God didn't intend for it to last forever.

For most people, change for the sake of change is difficult. We love time-honoured traditions as well as the same old same old. Life is easier when we have a pattern, a routine. When something happens to uproot our norms, we often react with anger, confusion, depression, or resistance. But we can choose to react with acceptance.

Rarely does God work the same way during the entirety of our lives. His overarching plan for our life requires many changes along the way. Rather than resisting the changes when we know that they are coming from God, we should willingly accept, adapt, and conform. He is working out His goal for us and conforming us to the image of His Son. Resisting the changes that God initiates prevents our spiritual growth, puts us at odds with others, and keeps us from realizing the good rewards that He attempts to give us.

When God sends change, let's accept it willingly.

Prayer: Father, help us to accept the changes that You send that are for our good and Your glory. Amen.