Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Making the time...

Our Assistant Pastor and I were talking the other day in regard to people making time for doctor's appointments, but yet many fail to make time for God. Hear me out in this...

If you think about it, all of us have to make time in our busy schedules to get to doctor appointments, dentist appointments, vet visits for our pets, take the time to get our kids to their sport practices, etc., etc. Yet, when it comes to God and our need for Him, we become very passive. Thinking, if I can get there to Church, I will, if not, I won't.

Now, taking this a step further, think with me... As you read the Bible you will find many who went out of their way to be certain that they were able to connect with God to meet their needs. Consider the blind man named Bartimeaus in Luke 18. He would not be quieted, but yelled out all the more when asked to leave Jesus alone, "Jesus, have mercy on me!" The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5, pressed in to just touch Jesus, even though she was not invited to do so. How about Naaman the leper in II Kings 5, here was a guy that went out of his way to seek out the Lord by going to the man of God for a healing in his body. Story after story in the Bible depics for us this idea of going out of our way to connect with God to recieve a special touch for Him. Bottom line, it takes some effort from us. In spite of our not wanting to impose. It's funny how we will go out of our way for our health to get to a doctor's visit, but we fail to go out of our way to go to the GREAT PHYSICIAN. What is wrong with us?

Last guy to consider... King Asa in II Chronicles 16. He was a Godly King, but it ended up that at the end of his life, he got sick, in fact, the Bible says that he became diseased in his feet, according to II Chronicles 16:12. What is sad about the whole of is life is shared in that verse too. It goes on to say that "His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians." Now, don't misunderstand me here, I am not against going to the doctor. However, I am against those who prefer to consult the physicians, and neglect to consult the Lord.

My exact point is this...we take all the time we need to tend to ourselves for the physical body (our hair, nails, doctor's visits, the chiropractor, the dentist, etc.) Yet, we give God only an hour on Sunday and expect Him to meet every need that we have. I think the Biblical pattern is opposite that. We have to get determined to pursue the Lord and seek Him out for our lives and our life's needs (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional).

All in all, my heart is simply wondering why we, as Christians, don't make getting to God a priority, so much so that we would tear through a roof to get to Him? Consider this thought with regard to your life today, and see if the Lord wouldn't say that maybe you (and I) haven't been guilty of doing this.

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