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Many Changes, One Purpose

A couple of weeks ago, my now-10-year-old said, ‘I don’t care what people think. I’m wearing white after Labor Day.’ However the fashion police want to handle this is up to them, but clearly my daughter was having none of it. She sees no reason why her color choice should be dictated by season. Of course, there are times I look at my children and ask if anything dictates their tastes in fashion. 

Seasons do change and weather will demand that shorts are packed up and jackets make their first appearance. I can accept that. Despite any of our likes or dislikes, the seasons keep taking turns, one right after the other. It won’t be long before we experience a time change. And, if we pay attention, we can see subtle changes in our children and youth ministries as the teachers may remain but the students keep changing.

Change is all about us. It is so prevalent that it’s a wonder that we have ever had time to get used to something and miss it when it’s gone. Maybe that’s just me.

Whether you are a fan of change or fight it every step of the way, I believe we can take comfort if we don’t make change our focus. In the letter to the Galatians Paul is expressing his concern for their focus. It would seem that they were fighting against change as well.

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”  ~Galatians 4:8-11
I don’t care when you choose to wear white. You can wear socks with sandals, plaid shorts and a polka-dot top for all I care. My wife’s head might explode if she sees you like that, but not me. Just don’t waste all of your energy holding on to what has been.We have many seasons and many options but our one purpose remains the same.

Guess what? Change is coming no matter what. For the Galatians, it was a choice between God and ‘those weak and miserable forces’. The same choice exists for us. We can choose to remain entangled in habits that are killing us. Or we can choose to take our focus off of ourselves and our desires and instead place it on God. That’s where it belongs anyway.
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