Are You Willing To Be Changed?
Acts 11:18
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
One day a preacher went to his monthly meeting with the elders and presented an idea that he believed he had received from God. After giving his most impassioned plea and really “selling” the idea to the elders, they voted down the preacher’s proposed changes 12-1.
The elder leading the meeting said to the preacher, “Sorry, but it looks like the only vote you received for your proposal was the vote you cast for it.” The elder continued, “Well, that’s all we had on the agenda tonight.” So he asked the preacher to lead a prayer to close the meeting.
The preacher, not wanting to give up on an idea that he felt God had given him, lifted up his hands to heaven and prayed with all his heart, “Lord, I know my brothers here do not have the same vision that you have given me. Please help them see that this is not my vision, but that it is your vision. Please give us a sign. In Jesus name, AMEN!”
Immediately, a lightning bolt with a loud clap of thunder burst in through the window in the meeting room, striking the table, splitting it in two and knocking all the elders to the floor. As the dust cleared, the preacher looked at the elders and said, “So, what do you think now about my proposal now?”
The lead elder, dusting himself off, sighed and said, “Well, I guess that’s 12 votes to 2, still not enough to pass your proposal.”
Change is tough for all of us. We dig in our heels and do our best to resist it, even if it is sent by God!
When Peter went back to the elders in Jerusalem, they criticized him for eating with Gentiles. As Peter explained to them what God had done that brought about a life changing event, the leaders had a change of heart and rejoiced.
David Guzik said, “This is a powerful passage, demonstrating that the hearts of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were soft enough to be guided and corrected by God. It is a glorious thing when God’s people will allow their prejudices and traditions to be overcome by God’s Word and God’s work.”
Are we willing to lay aside our prejudices, bad blood, and preconceived notions to see what God is doing? Peter could have dug in his heels, but he was willing to be changed, and so were the leaders in Jerusalem. How about you?
Today’s Readings: Exodus 37,38; Psalm 19; Acts 11
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