Minute Meditation – Change is Good News

The Good News of Jesus Christ is precisely that things have changed and that they are going to change even more. He came to a world that was stuck, to a people that could not find a way out of their sinfulness, to announce that there was another way. Better yet, he came not simply to announce this path and carry us there as passive recipients of grace, but empowered his followers to bring about the kingdom of which he spoke. The kingdom of God is at hand. It is not simply a far distant reality, but something that is inbreaking here and now, something that can be felt and brought about by those who live in communion with him. In the way we love one another, work for justice, and offer sacrifice—doing as Jesus did—we can actually make a difference in our world because it is in these moments that Christ dwells in us and the Holy Spirit is sent forth from us. What is it that we always pray? “Send down your Spirit and renew the face of the earth!” If we want to follow after Jesus, we must let go of our cynicism and bleak outlook on the world, and instead believe with all our hearts that Christ is in control of this mission. We must look beyond what is not yet redeemed and open our eyes to the overflowing torrent that is God’s love in our world, transforming and renewing the face of the earth. We must realize it is through us, those whom Jesus has called as his disciples, that this work is being accomplished.

— from the book Let Go: Seven Stumbling Blocks to Christian Discipleship by Casey Cole, OFM, page 34

//Franciscan Media//


Daily Devotion – Refusing to Listen

“Take handfuls of soot … The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land.” – Exodus 9:8-9 NLT:8-9 NLT

God asked Pharaoh to let His people go. It seemed like a simple request. But Pharaoh refused. In response, God sent a series of plagues. The first plagues were inconvenient and irritating to Pharaoh, but he found them relatively easy to resist.

Then came the sixth plague, as boils broke out on people and animals throughout the land. Boils are known to be particularly uncomfortable. For the Egyptians, these would have been horribly painful. We get some idea of the impact when we consider the suffering of Job, who was struck with “terrible boils from head to foot” (Job 2:7).

We can be sure that God had no delight in sending boils. But Pharaoh remained stubborn and refused to listen or change. He was prepared to let his people suffer rather than yield and respond to God.

Many people are like this, refusing to listen to God. They continue to go their own way, blind to the impact of their disobedience. The Bible makes clear that God desires to bless us and help us make the right decisions. But this means cooperating with Him, not insisting on our own ways but listening to Him. It means obeying His Word and being sensitive to His correction.

Learn from Pharaoh’s experience. Submit your ways to God. Let Him direct your path. As He leads, be ready to change. Always seek to do things His way and listen to Him.

Prayer

Father, help me be more sensitive to You. Guide and lead me. I submit my life to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Extended Reading

Exodus 9