A paradigm is a framework for thinking. It’s kind of the lens through which you see the world based on what you know and have experienced, and it influences your expectations. These paradigms are not inherently bad. In fact, they can be quite good.

However, we can expect that there will be moments when new information will come along that will require our paradigm to change. This is what is called a paradigm shift.

And with Jesus came the need for a huge paradigm shift. Before Jesus came into the world, the Jews had developed a paradigm that God only cared about the Jewish people and that God’s covenantal love was only for Jewish people. In fact, before Christ, it was scandalous to them that Gentiles would be considered a part of the people of God. That was their paradigm.

But with Christ, God fully revealed His love for both Jewish and Gentile people. Paul points to this new paradigm-shifting information in Ephesians 3, saying, “You can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Their paradigm made it difficult for them to see Gentiles as being welcomed into the people of God through Christ, and for that reason, their paradigm had to shift because everybody is welcome.

I wonder, does your paradigm need to shift? Are there some people you struggle to see as welcome into the people of God? Beloved, may your paradigm for God’s people shift to be as big as God’s. His is as big as the world, every person in the world who will turn from sin and trust in Christ. God, give us this paradigm!

Change begins in you!