Words to Grow On

April 14, 2008

Changed So That…

By

Cherraine Perkins

Philip. 1:12 NIV

    Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

Change for the sake of change doesn’t make much sense. There is apprehension and sometimes fear when we are called to change. Romans 12:2 however, gives us the reason for our being transformed by the renewing of our minds: that you may know the good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.  We are changed so that all the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart are acceptable in the sight of my Lord. Changed, so that I will be and do what He wants.  Changed, also, that others may observe my behavior—which has been changed because my thinking is acceptable to God (1 Peter 3:1-2).  So often our lives reflect “Do as I say, not as I do,” but the book of Peter tells us that people are changed and won when they see our changed life.

Have you discovered God’s so that principle? In effect God says to us, “I am permitting this unpleasant experience so that you may gain a new insight, so that you will be richer in your experiences and thereby help someone going through a similar problem. Changes in our lives give us an opportunity to prove God’s ‘so that’s’ in our lives as we gain through our losses.