By Dr. Dan Coflin
Pastor, River of Life Church
New beginnings are exciting. The first day of school, starting a new job or business, beginning a family, or even ending a long and successful career to start something new and different, each carry a degree of excitement and expectation or else the change would never be made.
Change is seldom easy. It is usually coupled with uncertainty not knowing how things will turn out, but when there is a hope for something better or a prospect for advancement most people are willing to make a change if they truly believe that what lies ahead of them is better than where they are now.
I believe that sense of adventure for what is new and better is God-ordained. God is the one that spoke to Abraham to leave his family, his city, and that which was familiar to go somewhere he had never been and to do something he had never done. Abraham obeyed God, trusting him to fulfill the promise to bless and prosper him and having done so became known as the “father of faith.”
There are many Biblical examples of common people doing the impossible or astounding because they chose to trust God instead of taking a sensory survey of their environment. Whether they were facing giants or famine, enemy armies or unseen forces, they prevailed when they called on God to be their strength and shield, provider and protector. The Word of God reveals to us that we are not inferior, incapable, or unable to do the impossible regardless of who we are. We relegate greatness to a few more able and noble than ourselves, but it is God who makes us able. Paul wrote in the first chapter of his letter to the Corinthians, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” What this scripture is saying is that your greatness nd success is not dependent on your IQ, your family’s nobility, or your financial strength, but on God who becomes to you everything you need when you need it as you look to Him to supply what you are lacking with His resources. God is looking for someone who will believe Him to accomplish great things that will bless many and bring glory to His name. You don’t have to be great in yourself. You’re not too young or oo old or too needy. You may be lacking in social graces or educational accomplishments, but really the least qualified in man’s opinion just makes you more a candidate for God to work through and receive the glory for the great things you accomplish. Are you ready for something new?
Let the adventure begin! Dr. Coflin and his wife Dianne copastor River of Life Church at 410 E. Chapman Rd. in Lutz, FL. 33549, (813) 949- 9931, www.roltampa.org
We would love to invite you to visit River of Life Church. Our lively worship begins at 10:30am on Sunday. We are a non-denominational, spirit-filled ministry. Please honor us with your visit. We would love to have ou!