Good Morning All,
Thankfully, we are now "back in the saddle again" with the 'weekly words', the email issue is solved at home; therefore Lord willing all we will be well. For archived 'Weekly Words': http://weeklywordsofencouragement.blogspot.com/
This week’s thoughts were actually inspired by a coach who assists with my 9-10 year old baseball team. All season he has used a phrase as he corrects the pitchers and admonishes them to improve their pitching. The phrase is one that I believe each and every one of can live by; it is something that can be applied in our lives on a daily basis. From church to business to home, this simple quote is a statement, which if thought on regularly, will assist and encourage us to improve things in our life.
From the dugout, the coach exclaims:
"If you do not make any changes, you will get the same results!"
Some will say: "well that is simple"...sure it is, but the application of this 'simple' statement is not easy (remember, simplicity does not equate ease). The Apostle Paul tells us that "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5.17). The last time I checked, all means all and that’s all all means. If all things are become new, that would mean that a change has occurred...Once a soul has Jesus Christ in their heart, they are become a new creature...
Unfortunately, the old man does not just 'run away', he is always there lurking and waiting to rear his ugly head and ruin the life the Lord has now given us. So where does that leave us? Paul also said in Romans 13.14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Meaning this: We must make a change...otherwise we will continue have the same results. Change does not mean running away, most of the time when people run (i.e. change locations, jobs, churches etc.) they continue the same path as before; assuming things will be better at a new place. Typically they will only find that because they failed to make the needed changes in their life, the same results occurred.
Maybe today you are struggling in a certain area of your life...or maybe you have become complacent or seemingly reached a plateau. Are you continuing to do the same things? If so, you cannot expect different results.
In the home and in marriage, you may be someone who does not express gratitude, appreciation or even affection toward your wife or husband. That does not mean you do not possess those feelings for them, but your make up may not be one that can easily expresses these emotions. On the other side, your spouse may be one that needs or desires this expression from the one they love so dearly. If that be the case, should they just learn to live without? Of course not. That is not fair nor is that the right thing to do. If we do not make any change, we cannot expect a different result. So the best thing to do is change…begin to express those feelings so that your spouse receives what they need and frankly deserve.
The same is true in all aspects of your life; in business, if the same model does not produce a growing and thriving business, then changes must occur…why? Because, ‘if you do not make any changes, you will get the same results’. In personal vices, again the same principle applies, ‘if you do not make any changes, you will get the same results’. Our Christian life is the greatest area that requires change…we now can ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’ and our entire world will change, when life is seen and decisions are made through His eyes changes occur…
In closing, what has given me comfort and confidence, is in the fact that no matter who or what we are, the Lord Jesus Christ has given us a door so that we can make the needed changes in our life to have a better result…Think on these things this week, when things are not heading in the direction that they need to, make a change to avoid the same results and improve the situation bringing glory and honor to the risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a great and wonderful day.
Til the Shout,
Dr. B.J. Stagner Jr.
Pastor
New Testament Baptist Church
www.ntbctn.com
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