There is much talk about change. There is nothing wrong with change. Change is often needed. What I have noticed is that most change seems to be closely linked with a victim-hood. The emphasis seems to be on the responsibility of other people to change and even for them to lead the change. The Bible presents us with an outstanding individual that changed his nation for the good and for God.
There are many individuals that the Bible reveals as world changers. This past week we launched our Celebrate Summer sermon series focused on 2 Samuel. And the world changer in this book is none other than King David. What is interesting is that when most people think of King David a “World Changer” does not comes to mind. Our first thought are usually of his failures especially “Bathshebagate.” Our positive thoughts might be the account of him facing the giant Goliath. Yet, the pages of 2 Samuel that begin with the death of King Saul and end with the death of King David are about an imperfect man that changed his nation for God!
I will be developing this thought over the next three months with some help from other speakers in our Sunday services. Asaph, the psalmist gives us this contemporary perspective of King David’s influence on his world. “With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” (Psalm 78:72) The situation was so bad that God had to remove him as king and install David. We gain this insight about David from God’s Word, “And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’” (Acts 13:22) And just a few verses later the Apostle Paul gives us this insight, “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,” (Acts 13:36)
So my point in this article is that you have a chance every day as a follower of Jesus to be like King David, a world changer. You too live in a broken world. It could be your marriage. It could be your family. It could be your neighborhood. It could be your place of employment. It could even be your church. And we definitely live in a broken world. So the question is, will you let Jesus use you to influence the broken people in your life? Let me warn you it will not be easy nor will it happen quickly. But you by knuckling down on your commitment to be a genuine follower of Jesus will put you in a place where God can work through you. I am reminded of the challenge that Jesus offers His followers, “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”(Luke 9:23)
I accepted that challenge over 35 years ago. It began by accepting Jesus and becoming His follower and it has continued on over all these years of serving Him as an imperfect man. I confess there have been incredible tough times. I also want you to know that I have not always handled things the right way. But through it all my heart has been surrendered to loving and serving Jesus with all my heart and it has been worth it! I wonder, if you have not done so already, if you would be willing to join me on the journey of allowing God to change our worlds though us?
-Pastor Joe Parkinson