The Greatest Change Agent Ever

1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Change is not easy for most people. It can take us out of our comfort zone. Even the smallest change can be disruptive. As a result, we resist change because the status quo is safer. We know what to expect. We have more control of our world when everything remains the same.

So what does it take for us to change? To get some idea of how to answer this question, here are the first three steps of Celebrate Recovery, a Christian twelve step program that specializes in change.

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable. 

2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

 These steps tell us that in order to change requires reaching the bottom. When that happens you realize that your life is out of control; that you are powerless; that you can’t change on your own. Finally, you understand that you need the greatest change agent ever, Jesus Christ.

 Eugene Peterson in The Message, paraphrased that change agent in Matthew 5:3-4.

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

This is from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus is speaking to common people; not to folks in a twelve step program. He’s telling them that in order to change, you have to hit bottom in some sense. Otherwise, there is no need for Jesus.

Today’s passage is about when Jesus brings us home with our resurrected body. From then on, there is no sting from death nor struggle with sin. Only the joy of living life as it was meant to be; living in the presence of our Creator.

 Jesus is the greatest change agent ever. He specializes in taking us home. Thanks be to God.

Hope Springs Eternal

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

 

 

Hope! Can you feel it? There is something about the human spirit that wants to hope; needs to hope. As the saying goes, “Hope springs eternal”.

 

Every year the loyal fans of the snake bit Cleveland Browns hope for a championship. We hope that the rain will finally stop and the sun will come out. We hope that our boss will give us that raise. We hope that our kids excel in school. We hope that life will be wonderful, full of happiness and laughter. Hope springs eternal.

 

And yet we live in a dying world. A baby is born, lives for a lifetime and dies. Like taxes, it’s inevitable. Ever since Adam and Eve made that fateful decision in the Garden, death has had the final word… until Jesus.

 

Jesus was raised from the dead and promised that he would return for us. Not only did Jesus promise to return for us, but Paul tells us that we will receive new bodies.

 

“…Our earthly bodies which die and decay are different from the bodies we shall have when we come back to life again, for they will never die... they will be full of glory when we come back to life again… they will be full of strength... they will be superhuman bodies.”        Vs. 42-44

 

When people hope for good weather or good fortune or for their favorite sports team; they are really wishing. It’s just like rubbing a bottle in hopes that a jeannie will grant your wishes. But the hope that we have in Jesus returning and bringing us home with resurrected bodies is more than a wish. It’s a promise.

 

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am”.             John 14:1-3

 

Because of this promise, even in the midst of hopelessness, there is hope. Even in the

midst of difficult times, there is hope. Even in the midst of failure, there is hope. Hope springs eternal, not because of a jeannie in a bottle, but because of a Savior who was raised from the dead, and will return to bring us home in new bodies.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2015%3A35-49&version=NIV;TLB
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/1Cor.15.35-1Cor.15.49

 

 

Snap, Crackle, Pop! Romans 8:1-11

Do your joints creak and crack? When I first get out of bed in the morning, I walk like I ran a marathon the day before. My ankles are stiff and hurt from all the sports I played when I was younger. My husband laughs at me, but he is not much better after his three knee surgeries. Between the two of us we laugh our way through the popping joints.

Reading our scripture passage for today, I am encouraged that one day I’ll have a new body. 2 Corinthians 5:2, 4 calls our earthly body a tent and when we get to heaven we will have a heavenly dwelling. Romans 8:23 says we will receive the redemption of our bodies. That will be so nice. I might miss the chuckles my husband and I share, but I’m sure I won’t miss how aging has taken its toll.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for how you love us completely. You didn’t just stop with, sharing Heaven with us. You'll even give us perfect bodies with which we can spend eternity in. You are amazing. Help me remember each day as my body groans at me, that this is only temporary. Amen

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway Romans 28:1-11

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