The Power For Change

When we were missionaries in the Philippines our daughter, then 3-years old, was the only child on the island where we lived who had blond hair.  We never suspected that she was feeling different than the masses until the day I found her brushing her hair with someone’s hairbrush—that wasn’t ours.  I stopped her, took the hairbrush and asked who it belonged to.  She told me it belonged to one of the Filipinas who lived with us.  (At one time, there were no less than five Filipina girls living in our house.  Some we helped through school while others worked in our home and ministry.)

I endeavored to explain to a 3-year old the reasons we shouldn’t use other people’s hairbrushes.  When I finished, my little girl tried to reason with me.  There was a helpless panic in her voice as she pleaded.  

 “But Mom, if I don’t use their brush my hair will never turn black!”

In her 3-year old mind she surmised that the power for change was in the hairbrush, and the only way to achieve the desired transformation was to come in contact with the thing that held the power. 

I'm sure that I could stop here--you can see where I'm going with this.  But—I can’t, because it’s my job to explain the obvious!

As cute, and maybe even a bit sad, as this story is, it does hold spiritual truth.  If we want true change to come, we must come in contact with the thing that holds the power to change us. 

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11(NKJV)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

This week when you feel the need for change don’t look any further than the presence of the Lord and the Word of God.  That’s where the power for change lies.