Begging for Change? Really?

Remember when we talked about all the ways God speaks to us? I never cease to be completely 'freaked out' when I sense God doing just that with me. It's a privilege beyond words. Some would say I have a vivid imagination....that I am wanting it so much I make it happen. I've heard that said before. I used to think it about others. People who give arguments like that are impossible to convince otherwise without Divine intervention. So, while they think what they will, I continue to pray they will develop a life changing relationship with God. I would love nothing better than listen to everyone's accounts of how God is speaking to them. Especially the naysayers. The ones who don't believe. The lost. Well as usual, I digress. I thought we were through talking about change. But in my personal Bible study this week I came across change again. And, after reading and thinking about that lesson, it became clear that change wasn't finished with me. Or, more to the point, God wasn't finished with asking me to ponder change. This time, the subject of change has a little bit of a different turn to it. The book of Acts is where my study was this time. I have been concentrating on the first 5 books so far. The focus is on Peter and John and their ministry after the resurrection. The author of this study, Pam Gillespie, admonished us to look at Peter and John before and after and " compare and contrast" their behaviors ( words those of us who were teachers instantly recognize). Ok, Peter first. Let's see. When he was a disciple, some of the things that stand out about Peter were: 1. He took his eyes off of Jesus when walking on the water and promptly sank. 2. He was accused by Jesus of having his mind on the things of man. 3. He slept at Gethsemene when asked by Jesus to keep watch and pray. 4. He denied even knowing Jesus 3 times after Jesus' arrest. Doesn't really sound like someone 'on fire' for the Lord does it? So, let's look at John and see if he fares any better: 1. He was nicknamed "Son of Thunder" . Sounds like there might have been a temper problem huh? 2. He tried to stop a man from casting out demons because the man " was not one of them" and Jesus corrected him. 3. He asked Jesus if He wanted them ( John and James) to call down fire from heaven to consume some people who didn't welcome Jesus. Jesus reprimanded him. Well, put all those events together and the two don't sound like rock stars. They had a lot of stuff going on...with not much to indicate they would give their lives for the cause. And yet, when we read Acts, we see two entirely different people. After being filled with the Holy Spirit in Chapter 2, Peter and John were completely changed. By chapter 5 they had been put in jail twice for ther proclamation of Christ, the declarations of His life, death, burial, and resurrection, and the miraculous healings they performed . They refused to stop. Finally, FINALLY they had completely changed. There's that word again. Change. Dramatic change. The kind of change that should be seen in all of us when we become part of God's spiritual family . The bible gives us a number of examples of what that change should look like. Jeremiah 7 talks about specific actions this change will bear. Dealing its each other justly, taking care of the fatherless and widows, not looking to other Gods, not oppressing the aliens or shedding innocent blood. Matthew 18:3 tells us to change and become like little children. Hmmmm. Lots to think of there. I believe Romans 8:9 says it most clearly: " You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." So there should be change. Dramatic change. Holy Spirit controlled change. The change we all must have, even those of us who don't like change. I don't know about you, but I am not sure there is always evidence of dramatic change in my life. I know at one point, at a time I " thought" I was a child of God but really wasn't, there was not much evidence of change in the way I lived my life. Sometimes there's not much evidence of change now. But there should be. Dramatic change like that of Peter and John. Being in the presence of the one, true Holy God, filled with His Spirit should change anyone. Completely and forever. I wonder how many of us, like Peter and John, would be thrown in jail based on our changed lives? Scary huh? Scary enough to make us think about the changes we need to make? Or,better yet we need to let the Holy Spirit make in us? That's the kind of change we need to run to. Fast. With hearts just begging for the change.