It has been said, “Very large doors of opportunity swing on very small hinges.” What are the small adjustments we need to make that will allow us to walk through the doorways and embrace all that God deserves and opens up for us? The question is important because it is often the small adjustments that bring huge changes, and change is one of the necessary elements in our lives. In fact, a clever person said, “Constant change is the one thing that is here to stay.”
God uses external changes to teach us to trust Him, to put our faith in Him more deeply, and to cause us to read His word. Then as we look into His word and behold Him, we are changed inwardly from one level of glory to the next. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed….“ (2 Cor. 3:18). He further uses change to bring us to the place of seeking Him and His Kingdom first. Jesus exhorted those who would trust and follow Him, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
A major biblical truth running from Genesis to Revelation is that what we do with the primary portion of what we have (time, money, talents, and service), will determine the effectiveness of the remaining portion. If we give the first of all we have to the Lord, then His blessings will come on the part that remains. In other words, the rest is sanctified (set apart to the Lord) even though it is for our prayerful use. This is called the principle of first fruits as seen in Romans 11:16. “If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.”
You might ask, “What has this got to do with change?” The answer is when we put God and His word first, everything else changes and we see life from His perspective. Either the circumstances that hedge us in are changed or we are changed in the circumstances to see God’s ways and His glory more clearly.
Abraham offered up Isaac, his firstborn, which resulted in all who came after him being extremely blessed. God said, “Now I know Abraham fears Me.” In other words, “Now I know I am first in your life.” When this happens, we are liberated from our plans and agendas. We are free to experience God’s unhindered blessing, and we then know Him as Jehoveh-Jireh, our Provider.
