Changing the World

It's a full-time job trying to get people to change. Oh, what a perfect world it would be - if only other people would do what we want!

Jesus told a parable about the problem of not seeing our own faults. He said, "How can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye" (Luke 6:42)

Being able to see other people's faults easily without ever noticing my own is not just an indication of hypocrisy. It can be a wake-up call that the problem in a struggling relationship may be me. Perhaps it's my attitude that needs to change. Or I'm the one who needs to apologize. Maybe I'm the person who needs a humble spirit.

It's a lesson some of us have to learn over and over. We can't change others, but with God's help we can change our own behavior. And when our attitude changes, it may seem as if others have changed as well. (DB-CHK)

Thought: When God works a change in us, He can change others through us!

We Need God and People

In 2006, while promoting the film Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone surprised Christians with what he revealed. He said that his faith in Jesus Christ had not only influenced the writing of the first Rocky film but that his decision to create the final movie was inspired by his renewed affiliation with Christianity. As part of this transformation, Stallone realized that a poor choice had previously guided his life - self-reliance. He says, "You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else."Stallone learned something that many people are beginning to acknowledge - we need God and we need other people.

The Bible confirms our need for God and others. (See Psalms 5:2) And in Ecclesiastes we read that Solomon encouraged a proper reliance on others. In fact, he said helping each other can strengthen us, but individualism and self-reliance are dangerous and make for weakness. Two acting together are better than one self-reliant individual (4:9-12).

God gave us each other. Let's passionately rely on His power and draw from the help of others. (MW)

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The Great Pandemic

In March 1918, Albert Gitchell, an Army cook at Fort Riley, Kansas, was diagnosed with the flu. Before the year was out, it had spread around the world, killing perhaps as many as 40 million people. This highly contagious virus became a pandemic - a global epidemic (which is now happening again todate.. 2009).Fortunately, the influenza then disappeared mysteriously as it had begun.

Ancient Israel also suffered a devastating plague, but they knew its cause and asked Moses for a cure. They were ungrateful and complained about God's provision of manna. In righteous anger, God sent serpents whose poisonous bite left a lethal wound. He then told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. All who looked at it were healed (Numbers 21:1-9).

Centuries later, Jesus spoke of this as a symbol of His death on the cross. "Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15)

Have you trusted Jesus to heal your soul? Accept Him now as your Lord and Savior!! (DF)

Thought: Look to Christ today, or you may be lost forever!