Monday, October
22, 2018
When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:7-12(NLT)
Sometimes, in the mornings when bones
and joints creak out their complaints about getting up too early, or stiff
muscles shout their disapproval over another long night in the bed…when aches
and pains call out for their fair share of your attention … like 150% of everything you’ve got … thoughts turn to asking
oneself just why you still push to answer the call. Why not just take it easy? Why not let someone else have it?
I always hated when the
conversation turned to the obvious age-related topic, that (barring life
getting cut short by violence or something like an incurable tumor), we all get
old, lose strength and must depend on others.
But like it or not, I’m there. I’m
in the eighth decade of life, and just thinking about those dozen bushes I
bought yesterday to plant in my yard makes my aching back want to call the
elder abuse hotline!
What was I thinking?
And then, thanks to the Apostle
Paul, I read something like today’s passage in Hebrews early in the morning. Suddenly, although the ache in my back from too
many yesterdays is still speaking loudly, it changes from a cry to pull the
plug, retire, and live out my days with ease, to a reminder that spiritual
dullness and indifference are the weeds that must be addressed if life’s race
is to be finished well.
Paul said his greatest desire was
that his Hebrew brothers and sisters would go on loving others as
long as life lasts. That,
for me, means there is something much more important to do with this life than
take a nap. Now, don’t get me wrong,
naps are great. In fact, I’m a firm
subscriber to the principle, and practice, that sometimes a good nap can put many
of life’s difficulties in proper perspective.
Naps are calming, restorative and probably as necessary as regular
breathing, diet, exercise and prayer.
They just aren’t the main focus of life.
They are an aid in maintaining the real focus which is helping others as
long as life lasts. This is the better
things Paul ascribed to his Hebrew family; he knew they were
destined for a well-deserved reputation of being God’s hands of mercy and
lovingkindness in a very needy world.
So, here I am, a cup of coffee and
two arthritis pain-relief tablets later, coming to the end of today’s devotion,
trying to make sense out of how I can help somebody today. And this is where the choice between a fruitful
life’s garden or a lot full of weeds and thorns is made. The list of ailments and losses is still
there, growing every day; so are the opportunities to make a difference loving
those God has placed in my pathway.
For You Today
Crop of weeds or fruit … it’s a choice every moment of every day,
as long as life lasts!
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