Seasons

BREAKING NEWS! The startling announcement is typically followed by an alarming sound effect and very concerned voice reading yet another headline. Headline after headline in BOLD print barrage our screens and our minds with notice of another major development. We are conditioned to look for a major change, a major event as we long for a major change. Big Event. Big Announcement. Big, fill in the blank. While the world is preoccupied with the headlines, God at work in the seams.

A timeless church not only values clarity over clever, it also values transformation over instantaneous change. While a longing for breakthrough or change is not sinful, it can lead with a preoccupation with personalities, problems, and perception.

We love stories of miracles and miraculous breakthrough in the Bible. However, these rare moments are surrounded by long seasons… those are the passages we skim or skip! God works through long seasons. The parable of the sower reminds us that it takes time to see results. Galatians 5 reminds us that fruit comes from through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. While we long for circumstances to change, God works through seasons of transformation.

God exercises patience and ongoing faithfulness as He works in us and through us. It is to our advantage that God is longsuffering and merciful in His ways. He starts with today and promises to continue His work tomorrow. Jesus did not mind being called a friend of sinners, nor did the Father turn away from prodigals. He takes sinners and prodigals through long seasons of "becoming".

Often, churches long for big Sundays, big events, and big reports. Though the desire is not wrong, it discounts the ordinary ways God uses ordinary days to bring about extraordinary change – over time. Like the third hand on a clock, it takes 60 clicks to bring about “minute” change. There are 2,428,272,000 clicks of the third hand in the average Christian’s life. God is at work in every one with patience and faithfulness. That’s how change works, one degree at a time.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18