Are We Serious?

The ark of the Lord had just been returned to Israel from the Philistines. The Philistines had a stomach full of God after taking the ark in an invasion. Plagues had been brought upon these heathen people and they wanted no more of this “God of Israel”.

Israel was overjoyed with the return of the ark. They had lost the visual reminder that God was with them and now they had it back. But Samuel challenges them with an interesting question: “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of . . .” (1 Samuel 7:3 NLT)
They had been worshipping idols (Baal and Ashtoreth) and Samuel ask them if they want to get serious.

I wonder if Samuel were among our churches today if he would ask that question? I wonder if he would list the idols that we have decided to worship? Things, our children, power, greed, occupation, pluralism, or even ourselves could top the list.

One day we will be asked if we had been serious about God. What will your life say?

Imus and God

CBS fired Don Imus from his radio program Thursday, the finale to a stunning fall for one of the nation's most prominent broadcasters. Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on the air last week, but outrage continued to grow and advertisers bolted from his CBS radio show and its MSNBC simulcast.1

He just could not survive. There will be debate over whether he should have lost his job. Should a person be held to a standard that any words that are misspoken cost them their job? I don’t know.

There are a couple of things that I do know. One, he should not have said it. It was prejudicial at best and mean at worse. Imus lives in a glass house every day and people are influenced by what he says. We all would tell him, “you should have know better.” Second, I am glad that God does not treat us that way. We misspeak, lie, cheat, live ungodly, don’t pray, are not a good witness of our faith, gossip, don’t forgive, are prejudice and the list goes on. But if we repent (more than being sorry we got caught), and ask Him for forgiveness – He does just that – forgives. With Him there is no loss of job, loss of our relationship or dangled over the fires of hell. Yes, there may be consequences in this life because of what we do or say, but with God there aren’t any. Grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, salvation, hope and love – God is there. Thank you Father for not being like us.

1 “CBS fires Imus from radio show” Fox Sports web site

P.U.S.H.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many year she toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind:

"You have been pushing against that rock for a longtime and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked.Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown;your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now, I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants,when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong - just P.U.S.H.!
When the job gets you down - just P.U.S.H.!
When people don't do as you think they should - just P.U.S.H.!
When you can't find the right work - just P.U.S.H.!
When your money is "gone" and the bills are due - just P.U.S.H.!
When people just don't understand you - just P.U.S.H.!

P= Pray
U= Until
S= Something
H= Happens

Author Unknown