Change is possible

The lesson for children’s church was an interesting question, “Can a leopard change his spots?” Jeremiah 13:23. Helping young students to understand what this meant was the teacher’s goal. She explained that prophet Jeremiah was endeavoring to alarm hearers. His statement was, by your disobedience you are possibly without hope, like a leopard that cannot change its spots.

With intent to emphasize a point, the teacher asked the students, “Do you think a leopard can change its spots?” All the young students said changing his spots was not possible, except for one boy who said he could. His comment was; “If he doesn’t like the spot he is in, he can change it.”

Circumstances come to pass. Situations usually depend on seasons of life. How we respond to these evolving patterns is determined by outlook and attitude. Consider these words of wisdom. “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious. The best not the worst; the beautiful not the ugly; things to praise not things to curse,” Paul the Apostle, Philippians 4:8. Joshua, Moses’ capable replacement who successfully led Israel, said if you think well, you will live well, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, 3, say, he thinks good, so he lives good.

Changing the “spots” of identification that are on you will not seem important when it is realized the “spot” you are in can be changed by the way you see and think.