The Power to Change Lives

In my last year of seminary – one of the last classes I took, was a kind of nuts and bolts class of the ministry – how to make a budget, how to run a session meeting, how to run a stewardship campaign. Just the kinds of things a pastor needs to know before they get out of school and into a church.

At the very end of the class, the professor brought in a retired minister who had years of ministry experience. He was in his 70’s at that time – a lot of wisdom. And he shared with us about the need to persevere and the need to be out visiting people. He covered all the ins and outs the good, the bad and the difficult. And at the very end of his speech, he said, “Here is the most important thing. If you remember nothing else, please don’t ever forget the power of Jesus Christ to change lives – even yours.”

I have never forgotten it. In fact, in the 20 years since, I have seen it happen again and again and again. I have seen lives changed, prayers answered, situations turned around, redemption happen. So much so, that today, no matter what what the situation, no matter what the person might have done, no matter what happened, I always hold out for redemption. I hold on to the possibility of change. And, I hold on to hope.

I don’t know what you might be going through in your life, but I pray that you would never forget the power of Jesus Christ to change lives – even yours.

Let us pray: Loving God, today we lift up to you our anxious, worried hearts. Calm our spirits and help us to trust that your love will prevail. And may you peace which surpasses all understanding guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.