God Has Changed Who You Used To Be
Beloved,
I am excited about this week as it leads up to Mother's Day, the day that we celebrate those who have been mothers in our lives, birth and/or others. It is a day that we recognize that through God we are given life through our mothers and they participate in the birthing process of the innate and spiritual gifts that God has planted inside each of us while in our mother's womb.
I pray that you will come out with your mother on Sunday to celebrate with us. And, mothers, do bring your children with you to be with the church family on Sunday. We look forward to worshiping with them and having the chance to fellowship with them as well.
Also, this evening at HOPE Wednesday, the topic will be dealing with the church as our mother. The Holy Spirit is giving us the opportunity to celebrate all that motherhood can and should represent - spiritually and naturally.
In the sense of motherhood, we understand the process of birth. As Christians, we know that we have two births - natural and supernatural.
Our natural birth brought us into the world as sinners.
Our supernatural birth brought us into a new relationship in the world as sinners redeemed.
Who orchestrated the first birth? God.
Who orchestrated the second birth? God.
And, as God brought you into this world, it was God who changed you from who you used to be.
Why was it necessary for us to change?
It was necessary because God wants you to come back to Him in His riches and glory; but, you cannot come to Him just any kind of way.
The Apostle Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,
"Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers - none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of YOU USED TO BE. BUT you were WASHED, you were SANCTIFIED, you were JUSTIFIED in the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and in the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD."
Now, do understand that this is not an exhaustive list of what you used to be. So, do not look at the list for what you did or did not do in an effort to make yourself feel better. Our desire should always be to actually be better and do better. And, to be better and do better, we must never forget that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God in some way.
We must also understand that God desires for you to embrace who you are in Him now, not who you used to be.
By God, who you used to be has changed into what you can be, the truer more authentic self that God desires to be with Him in eternity.
Is that not awesome?
You can make lifestyle changes like going to the gym and eating right in an effort to change your body.
You can begin to save more and spend less in an effort to improve your financial well-being.
You can try to be good and do good to those around.
But, all of those will be of little use if all is done in your efforts that will likely be exhausted in some shape, form and fashion.
Also, more importantly, none of these things matter in eternity.
God is changing you to get you ready for eternity in a way that none of these other things can do.
And, it all happens when we cease fighting against God and humbly submit to God.
And, the more you do it, believe it, the easier it becomes.
If you have given your life to God through Jesus Christ, you are on the way and I encourage you to believe that you will make it all the way.
The old you could not, and let us be honest, many times would not let you be your best self.
Now, you can do it and you should do it.
How and why? Because God has changed who you used to be and the person you are now is better than who you used to be and is on a journey with God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - to being the best you that you can ever hope to be.
Come out and journey with us this evening at HOPE Wednesday and invite someone to come with you as we all continue to strive to be who God has changed us into being.
And always remember that God loves you and I love you too.
Be blessed,
Rev. Cain
