Change. It's become the most recent buzz word in the 2008 presidential race. As a matter of fact, Senator Obama's slogan is "Change We Can Believe In." He uses inspirational language such as "We Are the Change That We Seek." Michelle Obama, wife of candidate Obama, made headlines a couple of weeks ago when she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country. And not just because Barak has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

She's right, people are hungry for change, and the success of Obama's campaign attests to that fact. He is now the democratic frontrunner in both popular and delegate votes and is treated like a popular rock star.

We can also find this search for change in matters of faith. The February 26 issue of USA Today featured an article entitled, "Shifting Borders of Faith: Americans Freely Change or Drop Their Religions." The piece went on to describe a survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. They conducted interviews with more than 35,000 adults, and research fellow Gregory Smith concluded, "Churn, churn, churn. The biggest news here is change."

Among other things, this study of change found:
44 percent said they were no longer tied to the religious or secular upbringing of their childhood.
12.1 percent said their religious affiliation was "nothing in particular."
51.3 percent of self-described Protestants were unable or unwilling to describe their denomination.
46 percent of foreign-born U.S. adults are Catholics, compared with only 21 percent of native-born adults.

The findings from this study affirm the search for change in our society in those whose "faith" is relegated to religion instead of relationship with the one true God of Israel. It also illustrates (like the massive Obama following) that change for change's sake is never good. On the other hand, it can be good, life-"changing," in fact. Both the Obama phenomenon and the Pew Research study results reveal golden opportunities for believers to make a difference in searching lives.

When my children were young, they headed for the kitchen when they were hungry. If I had their meal ready, this urge was quickly satisfied. When it wasn't dinnertime, they needed to have healthy snacks available or they would fill their cravings with empty--and even damaging--calories. After all, it is a human fact that hunger does come, but if we don't satisfy it with good things, we allow bad things to suffice. Look at this amazing Bible verse: "The satisfied man loathes the honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place" (Pro. 27:8).

The hungry man will eat anything available. But offer nutritious food, and they will be satisfied. In light of this presidential election season, we need to be available to those hungry souls searching for change--and offer them the good stuff. Have their dinner available. Offer them healthy food that will take away that hunger for good. Jesus offered the hungry, thirsty woman at the well "living water," and He assured her, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (Jn. 4:10; 14).

The world will keep looking for change (and that's good), but they will remain unsatisfied and always searching if they don't find the living waters (Ec. 6:7). We have a wonderful opportunity to offer that living water to them. For most of us, our impact won't be in large numbers. But if today, each one of us reaches one of them in their search, we'll make a difference for eternity.

Scripture tells us the rest of the story for this woman at the well searching for change. If she had lived today, she might have come to the well holding a "Change We Can Believe In" sign for Obama. Instead, Jesus offered her change she could really believe in: "The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 'Come and see a Man who told me all things . . ."

One person seeking change meets the ultimate Change Agent and then offers that same change to others. That's the plan, and you and I are part of it.

Living water. It's what Jesus gave, and it's what He wants you and me to give, too. Let's find those hungry and searching for change. Let's not look down on them, but, instead, help them meet Jesus. Then let's help them leave their change watering pots behind.

And that's enough to change your mind about change for good!