Change

TITLE: Change
DATE: May 1, 2019
TEXT: John 21:17 – ESV -  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” 

I don’t know why Olympic silver medal winner Kelly Catlin took her life,

1. It could have been a repercussion of a concussion she had January 5th.
2. It could be she took her parents wrongly when they said “greatness comes with hard work.” Her sister thinks Kelly change that to read: “If you aren’t the best, you aren’t anything.”
3. It is possible that she was so consumed by the quest for success that anything else seemed to be unacceptable. Kelly herself wrote, “If I am not an athlete I am nothing,:
4. Maybe it’s possible her words to her sister, ,”I would rather suffer than appear weak by seeking therapy.”, took a most sinister turn.

The truth is, I don’t know why Kelly, after repeated attempts, took her life. Good arguments can be made for all of the above and in any combination thereof.
​
I do wish I had had the ability to tell her…and to often tell her;; a wonderful truth of Christianity. That truth is a simple one to remember: “The Lord changes things.”In John 10:10, the Savior said He had come so His people could have life and have it abundantly. For that to happen in any life, changes are necessary.

In contrast to what the Lord wants us to believe, Satan spends considerable time whispering into the ear of people that “You have a bad life now, you will continue to have that bad life, without respite, without letup, without break without modification until the day you die.

In the course of my ministry I dealt with a number of suicides. Most happened because all they could see was darkness stretching out in front of them. But once again, Scripture shares that Jesus changes things. He  is the Light of the world… the Light that no darkness can overcome.

Jesus changes things. We  need to remember. If it is of any help, I encourage you to look at two of Jesus’ disciples: Peter and Judas. They both had heard the Savior; they had seen His miracles they had even eaten most of their last meal together. Then the night before Jesus was crucified Judas betrayed the Savior with a kiss and Peter betrayed Him three times with oaths..

Later, both were sorry for what they had done.

Peter survived that night; Judas did not. What was the difference? Peter came to the risen Redeemer and confessed His sin and His love. Jesus changed Peter from a denier to a proclaimer of salvation. Judas on the other hand, thought he had to pay for his sin on his own. He did. He committed suicide in a misbegotten effort to offer his life for the innocent life he had betrayed.

It didn’t work. He should have trusted the risen Redeemer Who changes things. He always does… even if you are a thief dying on a cross. Be turned  to Jesus  and He will change things. He will change you.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me realize that You are in control and believe that Jesus can bring His light to my darkness. In the Name of the Redeemer I pray. Amen.

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this sitehttps://www.newser.com/story/273659/days-before-suicide-if-i-am-not-an-athlete-i-am-nothing.html : and the article written by Newswe’s Arden Dier,:

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He aly: ong three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html