Monday; October 2

One of the things I like about sports is how fluid they can be. While there are some sports empires that seem to transcend trends and decades, there are others that periodically get their moment in the sun. This year’s Major League Baseball is an example of this. While the Braves and Dodgers continued their winning ways, teams like the Orioles, Marlins and Rangers had some substantial turnarounds. Those of us who are fans of these teams might hope this will signal a resurgence, but for the short term, we’ll be happy to enjoy it while it lasts.

As I thought about changes, I got to thinking about how quickly people can also make adjustments in their lives. While it is true that we tend to be creatures of habits, when we really want to do it we can make significant changes when we decide to do so. Take for example, the people of Jerusalem back a few centuries ago who did an about face in a matter of a few days. One Friday, they cried out for the crucifixion of Jesus but within a couple of months they were streaming back to Him. The book of Acts tells us that many of those who had been a part of crucifying Jesus were touched by the preaching of the apostles, “So then, those who had receive his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41). Luke would go on to say that believers were, “… praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47). The key to their turn around was a turnabout. When they realized what they had done, they “repented” and sought out a relationship with Jesus.

Let’s learn from the people touched by the good news of the gospel. Thankfully, people can change, so the questions we should consider include, “Are we helping people see the error of their ways?” and “Are we willing to accept them when they do change?”. Once they do change, then we can move to helping them become familiar with and convicted to the changes they have made.

Think About It!

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