Sunday Night Devotional Honoring Seniors
This devotional examines how change, though often uncomfortable, is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. God calls us to extend beyond our comfort zones and trust Him as He shapes us into the image of His Son.
Change is Inevitable
Change is an inevitable part of life. We don’t always like it. We don’t always want it. But it happens. Change is not always bad—some changes are good. A refusal to change is not always good either. As parents, we would know something is wrong with our child if they did not grow and change. This is true with almost any relationship. Sometimes changes occur in our relationships and it becomes a growing time. We may not like it, but we can appreciate the improvements afterwards.
Some of us like the security which comes from order. We like things to be certain ways at certain times. We appreciate the security which comes from predictability. Others find comfortableness in the unpredictable. They like the spontaneity of life and the challenges which come from adventure.
God’s Perspective on Order and Change
Some stress the orderliness of God and try to make sure that we understand that God is not pleased with disorder and chaos. They are right. Some stress that God has regularly called people to go beyond order and to learn to trust him through the challenges which come when we don’t always know what is ahead. We can point to Abraham or Noah and point to the reality of that truth.
It would be fair to say that God is a God of order. It would also be fair to say that God wants us to dream and envision what the future may be so that we can exercise our faith. God isn’t an either/or God but a both/and God.
Being Changed by God’s Power
The key in learning to deal with change is learning what change is about. If we want to effect great change, the best we can do is allow ourselves to be changed by the power of God. God wants to make us into the image of his Son.
Some fight against such change. They think that everything is fine the way things are. They are reluctant to give up control and order. They allow God to touch only what they want him to touch. Such an approach may lead to a sense of security but it is the path of immaturity and no growth.
Growing Through Challenge
When we extend ourselves, when we explore, when we give permission to be curious about things that really matter, then we learn the meaning of faith. We learn to grow and mature. When we push outside our comfortable boundaries, then we learn what it means to trust the Father.
Tonight as we honor our seniors, they are being challenged to go beyond the comfortable boundaries. Such a challenge leads to growth, maturity, and with a desire to honor God, it leads to trusting the Father even more. May we all be open to being challenged in our thinking and our actions as God shapes us into the image of his Son.
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