Oct 1, 2020
By Frank Mazza
I recently went into our local Wawa convenience store for a cup of coffee. Above the counter was a sign saying the store was short on change and the use of credit or debit would be appreciated. Later that same day I grabbed some groceries from Acme and was faced with the same message. “Not enough change to support customer needs. Please use alternate means for payment.” It seems that the ongoing pandemic has slowed in-person retail sales to the point that small change is in big demand.
That got me to thinking—sometimes “change” can be a good thing: not necessarily coinage that supports small businesses—but in our personal and spiritual lives. One of my favorite Bible stories is when the apostle Paul is testifying to King Agrippa about his conversion on the Damascus road. He (Paul) says in Acts 26:14 that after he was struck by a blinding light he heard a voice speak to him and say “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads”. For anyone not familiar with the finer points in herding sheep, a goad is a long pointy stick that shepherds would use to change the path of the lead sheep—and thus the direction of the whole herd. Paul, at the time of his conversion, was still a Pharisee and on a mission to destroy the Christian church. However, God was calling him in a different direction. I believe that deep down Paul knew well before Damascus that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. Perhaps it was pride that kept him from admitting he needed to change his old mindset that the Law was the only path to salvation. Maybe it was fear of not being in control of the situation. But I do know this… Paul was kicking against the goad when Jesus was calling him to change direction until eventually, change was unavoidable.
In addition to Paul, there are countless other examples in the Bible where change was put upon people. Moses, Abraham, Joseph, and Daniel are just a few of the many individuals who faced unavoidable changes in their lives. In each of these examples, God used uncomfortable and even downright unpleasant circumstances to develop and grow His people to accomplish His will.
Now, I do understand that change is not always seen as favorable. Allowing something (or someone) beside ourselves to be in control of a situation can cause feelings of anxiety and fear. However, it can also be dangerous to allow these feelings to prevent us from truly submitting to what God has in store for us as individuals and as Seventh Day Baptists. All of us have had to cope with unavoidable changes to our routines this year. Perhaps this is a time to listen to what direction we are being goaded. Let me encourage you to seek His will today even when it means encountering unwanted change. You may discover that the road ahead is more glorious than what you can envision today!
As a member of the denomination’s Church Revitalization Task Force, I would also like to encourage churches to consider praying about enrolling in the Pulse program aimed at helping Seventh Day Baptist churches examine if they are truly healthy and focused on His mission. It can be intimidating to stop and ask if God is calling your church to change in some areas. But just as Paul was able to accomplish great things through obedience and newfound humility—so too can we enjoy fruitful ministries in our communities when we allow God to be in control. Even if that means small change is needed.
Frank Mazza serves on the Church Revitalization Task Force (CRTF) for the denomination and is an active member at the Shiloh Seventh Day Baptist Church.
