April 22nd - Colossians 1:6

Colossians 1:6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. Following Christ always involves radical change. James and John had to leave their boats and their fishing nets and follow Jesus. Zacchaeus, the tax collector, had to make things right with all the people he had defrauded. And Saul, the devout Jew who was determined to stamp out the Church, changed his name and his whole direction of life, becoming Jesus’ most passionate ambassador. Christ meets us as individuals, so the changes that take place in our lives will be unique. As a teenager, I heard many amazing testimonies from people who had been dramatically changed by Christ. I heard about people who had been on hard drugs for years and who had found new life and liberty in their newfound faith. I listened to people who had pursued a life of crime and then met Christ in prison. For some years, I felt awkward and guilty that I had such a comparatively dull story to tell. I had never been on drugs, never been kicked out of school, never been locked up, and my life had rarely caused anyone to raise an eyebrow. But I was, of course, missing the point. The point is that whoever you are and whatever your background, Christ brings change. He gave me new hope, peace and direction for my life. The moment of becoming a Christian is often one of dramatic change, but it doesn’t end there. The Christian life is full of continual change as we get closer to God and allow his Spirit to lead us. The apostle Paul was always abundantly clear that he still needed to grow. He wrote to the Philippians: “I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ first possessed me…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:12-13). For the Christian, change is always here to stay. Question In what ways have you seen changes in your life since you became a Christian? Prayer Loving Father, I thank you that you accept me as I am and love me so much that you want me to change. Amen