A Change Will Do You Good!

A devotion by Pastor Wes Poole

Jeremiah 31:31-34
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. NRSV

We usually read the above passage on Reformation Sunday. The prophet reminds us that our God is never boring or static. He is always doing a new thing; creating something wonderful. In all of the history between God and His people that Scripture recounts for us, God never rests on His laurels. God never settles. God is actively engaged with us; inspiring us to live and engage with one another in the same way. As a church of the Reformation tradition, we subscribe to the doctrine of Sempre Ecclesia Reformanda…the Church, always reforming. We are a community of believers built to thrive on growth and change, for one can’t exist without the other. Right now, there are a lot of changes in the church that we likely didn’t expect or want. Social distancing, online worship, limited in-person worship, new methods of celebrating communion…all of these changes have been forced on us. This has obviously been difficult, yet again, we are a church designed to deal with and even embrace change. Jeremiah was foretelling the new covenant God promised and brought to fruition in Jesus. Yet even then, Jeremiah was reminding his people of the need to trust in God’s creative genius. God promises a new relationship that is deep and eternal. We trust that He will see us through any difficulties and indeed inspire us to even greater acts of goodness in His Kingdom. We’ve heard it said a lot during this COVID crisis that we are the church wherever we may be and in whatever situation we find ourselves. This has never been truer than during these trying times. Will it be difficult? Yes, sometimes, but we face every challenge before us with Our Lord at our side. As a community of faith, we at Good Shepherd are still grappling with how to be the Church in the time of COVID. There are social, theological, doctrinal, practical, and certainly financial challenges ahead. Coming together as a family, social distancing and financial obstacles notwithstanding, God will see us through and we will see each other through everything. We will undoubtedly be changed permanently in some ways…but we will still be the Church and God will still be God. His promises are never in vain and He will continue to create wonder out of even this most trying of times. The Church, Always Reforming. May we continue to trust in God’s creative and redeeming power; showing the world what this new life in Christ looks like. It may not always be easy, but it will never be boring!

Let us pray…
Creator God, we thank you for the wonder of Creation, and for the new life you have extended to all people in Jesus Christ. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, give us a share of your creative genius; for we know that all things are possible in you, and this world will one day call upon you as one people, with your Word in our hearts. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. I hope to see you soon!

Blessings always,
Pastor Wes †