Grant Batchelder
Dear friends in Christ,
Jesus says, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth.”
—Matthew 15:1–20
This passage reminded me that periods of change have a way of revealing us.
Whether in a family, workplace, church, or any other community, change often brings uncertainty. Decisions are made. Leaders come and go. Priorities shift. Some people are excited about what comes next, while others are disappointed, frustrated, or worried about what may be lost.
In those moments, it is easy to focus entirely on the change itself. Was the decision right? Was it handled well? Could it have been done differently? Those are important questions, and sometimes difficult ones.
Jesus points us toward a different question.
What is this situation producing in us?
The circumstances themselves do not make us resentful, fearful, generous, patient, gracious, or uncharitable. More often, they reveal what was already there. Change has a way of bringing those things to the surface.
Communities are not tested when everyone agrees. Communities are tested when people disagree, when decisions are painful, and when the future is uncertain. Those moments reveal not only our character as individuals, but the character of the community itself. They show us how willing we are to listen, to assume good intentions, to extend grace, and to remain connected to one another even when we see things differently.
Before addressing the dispute in Matthew 15, Jesus first says, “Listen and understand.” It is a simple instruction, but not always an easy one. In moments of uncertainty, we are often quick to react, defend, explain, or judge. Jesus invites us to pause and look deeper.
I do not think Jesus is dismissing traditions, structures, or even disagreements. They matter. But they are not what ultimately define us. What defines us is how we respond to them and how we treat one another while moving through them.
Most of us have little control over the larger changes happening around us. We do, however, have some control over what comes out of us when those changes arrive.
In times of uncertainty, perhaps the more important question is not what is happening around us, but what is happening within us.
In this season of change, are you spending more time judging what is happening around you, or understanding what it is producing within you? If I’m being honest with myself and you, I know which direction I’ve been leaning, and it is not the one Jesus points me toward. So perhaps this is something we can practice together.
In Christ,
—Grant
