Expect a title change.
Expect change.
Text: John 2:1-11, Hymns: 289 chapters (whole) 208, Hymn 421 (whole 210)
There was a relative who completely denied Christianity, looked down on Christians, did not treat them like people, and persecuted them. He ran two companies and lived a decent life. But one day, I felt severe pain in my head, and when I went to the doctor, I developed a brain tumor the size of a ping-pong ball and it was found to be terminally ill. There was little hope of resuscitation, and he was trembling with fear of death. However, on the Saturday evening two days before the date of the surgery, I received the evangelism of an evangelist and accepted Christ. I found peace in my heart, the pain stopped, and I realized that something big had changed in my body. On Monday morning, just before surgery, I begged the doctors to take another picture, and something amazing happened. It was normal. He started a new life by the grace of God, and even now, 10 years later, he is living a healthy life, witnessing Christ and living a happy life. If we hold on to Christ, we cannot but change.
“Put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which after God was created in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Twenty years have passed since Jacob, who deceived his brother Esau and his father Isaac, left his hometown and fled to his maternal uncle's house. There he gave birth to 11 sons and a daughter by 4 women, and the cattle and sheep became very numerous. When he ran away from his maternal uncle's house and reached the Naru of the Yabbok River, he found that Esau was waiting for him with 400 men with his sword drawn across the river. He was left alone before crossing the river. Realizing human relationships, I came to realize that there is no way to live without God's help. He took hold of the angel of the Lord and clinged to him to bless him. An angel struck the bone of his walrus, causing him to dislocate. The angel of the LORD said to him, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel." The cunning old Jacob was nailed to the cross and reborn into resurrection life. When I change, the other person also changes. Before crossing the river of history, the old man who follows the old customs must be crucified. A new history belongs to a new person.
Zacchaeus, the tax collector in the world in Luke 19:1-10, met many people and had many things, but his life had no meaning. However, Zacchaeus experienced salvation and changes in his life through a true encounter with Jesus. All problems in our lives are solved when we meet Jesus. Our encounter with the Lord changes our character and our lives, because in Him is the fullness of the power of life.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
As the Russian writer Tolstoy said, "Christians pray for change in the world, but few seem to pray for their own change."
What does the incident of turning water into wine tell us? I'm not trying to tell you how great the power of Jesus is. Is it not meant to say that just as water turns into wine, life must also change. Stagnant water rots, but wine loses value over time.
How will it change? You must meet Jesus. Just as the water for washing your hands in a jar turned into the finest wine when you met Jesus, your life changes when you meet Jesus. If you have been attending church for a long time and you do not feel any change, you should check whether you have met Jesus properly.
When does it change? When you obey, you change. The servants of the banquet house filled the jars with water as Jesus told them to, and just gave them to the banquet hall.
Do you really want to change? If so, expect change. Change happens to those who expect it.
One of the reasons the church today is condemned by the world is because it does not change. They are disappointed that they cannot find the image of Jesus in those who follow Jesus, and that disappointment leads to criticism. Change in the world starts with me. I must be born again.
“Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
What is the strongest force in the world? Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University in the United States, said thirst. Change can only happen when there is a longing desire for change. Just as a thirsty deer wanders in search of a stream, pray and expect change with earnest heart.
* Prayer: Heavenly Father, who grants us a new life every day, renew our hearts so that we may fulfill the will of God that pleases us every day. Turn our common things, our sinful things, into something glorious. Make me completely born again and change it into yours. We pray in the name of our Savior Jesus. Amen.