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Change?
Pastor Jim Kilby • April 2, 2022
"I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6a
I was chatting with a man about my age today when he told me he and his wife of 25 years recently decided to divorce. Just yesterday, they sat their children down and gave them the sad news. When I asked if there was any hope for reconciliation, he kind of surprised me with his statement. “Not a chance!” he said. “We just weren’t meant to be married to each other.” He went on to describe how each partner had spent years and years trying to change one another, but the only things that seemed to change were their love and devotion to one another. They were giving up. It was over. No matter how wonderful the early years had been, no matter how incredible the wedding was, or the births of their children, they were quitting.
As I pondered this troubling conversation for most of the day, I was saddened. It seems to me we’re in an age where most vows really mean nothing. “Until death do we part” really just means “I’ll stay with you until you begin to annoy me or until I find something better.” And it’s not just marriages. We also get new “stuff” as soon as it comes out, although the stuff we already has is more than serviceable. And our faith in God, it too can often wain in the presence of just about any diversion.
Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t much like change. Unless it’s for the better, which rarely seems to be the case. But in these areas, I think we DO need a change. We need to change back to who we were just a mere twenty or so years ago. Our waining faith toward God, and our dedication to marriage, family and children, are almost exactly where they were when the Lord sent the prophet Malachi to admonish His people. Sure, it keeps a ministry to troubled youth busy, but it’s not good! I’ve put just part of one verse above, but the whole book could use a good read through in my opinion.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Jim Kilby
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Do you ever notice yourself treating other people differently because of their place in life? For instance, would you treat a homeless person differently than a popular person at your school or work? I'm not saying that you'd have to go up and talk to the homeless person the same as you would to a friend, but do you think about them differently on a basic level. Is one worth more to you than the other? I heard someone remark recently that it didn't matter how high they stacked up the trash can in their office "cause that's the trash man's problem!" I wonder what would happen if they found out that the president of the company was going to be emptying the trash that weekend. Would they be so insensitive? Just today I was helping my son empty the waste baskets in a doctor's office where he has the cleaning contract. In a million years I bet they'd ever imagine a preacher was emptying their trash? And just the same, we can't even imagine the lengths God has gone to to serve us. Should we seriously think of ourselves or our friends and relatives, as better than "the little people?" "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
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Since I have a family and quite a few responsibilities to them, I like to keep a certain sum of money in my bank account for emergencies. I don't think that's wrong. In fact, I think it's biblical to save for a rainy day and to provide for one's family. The problem arises when we put an undue amount of trust and faith in things other than God, and that absolutely includes our bank accounts. Whether its parents, friends, money, or something else, if we put our trust in anything other than God our trust is misplaced. What is it that you trust in the most? "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Proverbs 11:28 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
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Some days the world just kicks you in the teeth. It's like you wake up just like every other morning and before you know it, everything's gone wrong! Although I must admit most days are an awesome experience for me, I've had my share of days I'd rather forget, too! The world is a tough place to be sometimes, and the people that we run into can often make things even worse. For a Christian, it's even tougher. We face persecution for our faith, plus we have a higher calling to find joy in everything, and all the while we are supposed to be looking for opportunities to grow in Christ and even to share our faith. If you ever get down, just know this one thing. It's Jesus that gives us the power to make it through each and every day. And it's Jesus that ultimately will help us overcome the evil we see. "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I had a young friend write me recently recounting a terrible tragedy that had fallen on her family. "Why?" the ink seemed to scream from the pages! And "why" is a question each of us will ask many times as bad things seem to have an uncanny way of happening to good people. The answer, probably easier to digest when we're not in the throws of the pain caused by tragedy, is fairly simple at it's root. There is much evil in the hearts of men. Although God calls all people to righteousness and holy living, many will seek a path of evil, blindly following the satanic calling they've embraced. God is not the author of evil... He is the antidote! "Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord." Isaiah 26:10 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I receive an endless string of notes and e-mails from people who tell me they want to know the Lord, but just don't know how. I find they are easy notes to answer, because God has revealed Himself in so many ways I can simply point them to His Word and to prayer and they'll find what they are seeking. Unfortunately, far too many times I receive notes back that ask me if there is any other way, generally because they've tried reading the Bible occasionally and praying and that doesn't work. Of course, going to church seems like it's also too difficult for them. There are just too many other things to do on that day, and too many reasons they can't go! The short answer is this: Only those who are willing to give up everything and seek the Lord with their whole heart will ever find Him. The casual observer who intends to seek God on his own terms will never find Him. Imagine someone you called your best friend, but who you never called and never went to see--someone you clearly only casually were interested in knowing. Would they be your "best friend" for long? "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Harvest Youth Ministries (HYM) is an outreach aimed at young people; not a youth group. HYM is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit ministry. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
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