In the late 1980s, my wife and I spent a few days in Honolulu on Waikiki Beach. While we were enjoying the surf and the sand, a man with a camera and a large parrot came up and said, “Let me take a picture of you that will make all your friends back home jealous.” He showed us some samples of other photos he had taken that he had turned into postcards. One of the samples was a photo of actor Tom Selleck with that same parrot on his shoulder. We took him up on his offer and bought a few postcards to send back home.
Even though it was a good picture of my wife, the parrot, and myself, the postcard didn’t give our friends a complete picture of what Hawaii was really like. We could point out Diamond Head in the background and explain where our hotel was in relation to the photo, but the photo didn’t capture the warmth, the beauty or the “hang loose” attitude that we found there. When we read the Bible, it’s like looking at a postcard from God. We are given a glimpse of his power and majesty, but we cannot see the complete picture until we see him face to face. Likewise, we can only grasp a fraction of his love for us now. But one day we shall see him in all his glory and we will respond by joining the angels in their never-ending chorus of “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.” That’s when we will realize fully that God is bigger and better than we have ever imagined. At that moment, every doubt or fear we ever experienced will disappear in the light of his glory and grace. For now we try to see as much as we can through our postcard-view in the confident hope that we will one day be in the very presence of God where nothing will be hidden. I finally figured out how to deal with the “check engine” light on my car. For several months now, the “check engine” light has been coming on. It’s not on all the time, and the car seems to be running fine, so I haven’t repaired anything. But that “check engine” light can get annoying. Not anymore! Now, thanks to a handy business card over the light, it is not such a nuisance!
The philosophy, of course, is “out of sight, out of mind”. Now, I know I haven’t really fixed the problem—I’ve just covered up the warning signal. That’s the way a lot of us deal with the warning lights in our life. Not opening the mail won’t stop a bill from coming due. Undressing in the dark won’t stop the waistline from expanding. Ignoring God today won’t prevent us from facing him about eternity. Throughout our life, God sends warning signals when we drift away from him. He loves us and wants us to stay in harmony with his plan for our lives. When we go our own way and avoid him, he cares enough about us to remind us of our need of him. These reminders could be a gentle nudge—though a sermon or a song. Or it could be a little more blaring, like going through financial or physical hardships. We could ignore or cover up these signals, like I’ve done with the business card over my “check engine” light. But that will only make matters worse. It’s better to respond quickly to the signal, find out what God is trying to say to us, and take action. If you have a warning light flashing in your life right now, go to the Master mechanic for an early detection and correction. It’ll help you avoid a breakdown in your relationship with Him, and you will go further down the road of life. “When I was a kid, I used to walk five miles to school in chest-high snow, up-hill…both ways!” We’ve all heard the accounts of “when I was a kid”. You’ve probably used them yourself; I know I have. If you’re like me, your family had certain expectations for each person in the family. Every child, for example, had chores. In my family, my little sister would set the table, I would clear off the table after dinner, and my older brother would dry the dishes as Mom washed them. I always encouraged my brother to finish up the uneaten potatoes or vegetables, because I hated finding Tupperware bowls to fit leftovers into. The point is everyone was expected to do his or her share of the work to make life better for all of us.
You know, the family of God isn’t any different. Your church is like a family. The Bible says that we grow and become strong as we build one another up in love and as each part does its work. You wouldn’t expect to get all the benefits of living at home without doing some of the work. The church family is the same way! This weekend, go tell your pastor you want to know what your chores are! After you’ve revived him, tell him you aren’t kidding! There’s no telling what God will accomplish when each member is doing his and her part. Be a participator, not a spectator in your church family. Everyone will win that way. Did anyone ever tell you how to catch a monkey? In some jungle tribes, the method used to catch a monkey was to put some bait in a container that had a hole in the top just big enough for a monkey to slip his hand inside. The catch was that as soon as the monkey grabbed a fistful of food, his hand couldn’t come back out of the hole. He could run away and avoid capture simply by letting go of the bait, but nearly every time, the monkey was unwilling to do it.
There’s a story in the Bible about a man who had a similar problem. This young man was rich. He came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer was, “Let go of the riches in your hand!” Was Jesus opposed to wealth? No—hardly! But if wealth and the pursuit of it are more important to you than eternal life, he’s opposed to it. In fact, it’s not just money we hang on to—it can also be relationships, position or status amongst friends or in a community. Pride in who you are or what your abilities are can also take priority over a relationship with God. The Bible says if we seek to save our life we will lose it, but if we give up our life for Him, we will gain it back. What do you have to lose? Jesus challenges us to let go of whatever has become more important than God in our lives. Jesus has promised to gives us all we need, but first we must let go of what we have. He is either Lord of all—all that we possess and aspire to become, or he is not lord at all. May God help us to release those things in our hands and lead us to life today! A team of firefighters returned to a station house to find it was on fire! According to press reports, Firefighters in a Dallas, Texas suburb left some potatoes cooking on the stove when they responded to a fire in the city. The overcooked potatoes started a fire in the kitchen area of the station house. Firefighters from other stations had to be called in to assist in putting the fire out. Officials tried to put a positive spin on the event by reminding the public to not leave food cooking on the stove before stepping out.
The report reminded me of how easy it is for us to be busy putting out other peoples’ fires that we neglect the ones at home. Careers and commitments can become the primary focus of one’s life. Assuming everything is taking care of itself at home, we respond to every need outside of it. It’s a danger nearly everyone must guard against. Those that successfully balance their time and attention between family and career reap the rewards of being able to share their success with the ones they love. After all, what good is it if the whole world thinks you are indispensable, but your family barely knows you? People of faith are called to serve one another, but the circle of service begins with those closest and dearest to us. Like those firefighters in Dallas, we must remember the first fire that needs our attention is the one at home. I pity the fool who takes my favorite cup! I’ve got this coffee mug that is mine— all mine. I like the heft of it. I like the amount of coffee I can pour into it. And I like how it looks. I really don’t want anyone using it. I know it sounds selfish, but I’m kind of attached to it!
Did you know that God actually sees each of us in a similar way? He considers each of us a vessel, a container for which He has his own special purpose and plan. The Bible tells us that every vessel is unique. Some are designed for every day, general use. Some are designed for special circumstances. Some cups can take a lot of abuse. They can be dropped and they don’t break. Others are very fragile and are suited for entertaining special guests. Some are designed for strength, some for beauty, and some for promoting a product or service. In any case, every cup is designed for filling up. No matter how nice a cup, it’s of little value unless something can be poured into it. You and I, as vessels for God, have a purpose. We are to be filled with God’s love, peace, and joy. As containers of these good things, we are able to pour them out throughout the day. Love, peace, and joy flows from God, pouring out onto places and situations needing what God has given to us. Ask God to fill you up today. Then ask him to help you to find the people that need what he is supplying to you. Don’t worry about running out; he’ll keep refilling you as you return to him. And remember, God is particular about you—you are His favorite cup! |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2016
Categories
All
|