I have the privilege of being a guest writer this week for Thrive. I do realize that the book for this week is Mark, and I will at some point write a devotion from that very incredible book, however, God has spoke to my heart tonight to share with you something I wrote 4 years ago. Each year as I grow older I have the opportunity to sit, observe and listen to the hearts of people, and I find that not only those who are seeking, but those who have found Christ still have a belief that they must be perfect in order to please God. In order to stand in His presence. Without giving anymore away, I want to share this simple section from TRUE INTIMACY. May you know that He knows you and is waiting for you….scars, baggage and all."GET A PIPE WRENCH"
It was a very wet afternoon when my husband and I drove to his mother's house to take hot showers. Our basement flooded with the melting of all the snow, and the water heater was water logged and would not light.
We live in the churches parsonage and with the increase in our family size, we had been considering searching for a home to purchase. As we drove, Matt began to reflect on all the things that needed to be done in the parsonage. Focusing on how difficult it was because we did not have all the right tools, and all it took was one of the elders using his pipe wrench, (something we did not have) to work the sub pump. Then he said, "What are we doing thinking about getting a home? You need stuff, what are we going to do?"
I just looked at him and said, "Get a pipe wrench." We both chuckled.
Sure, owning a home will require having things to take care of it, but if we wait to gather all of those things before we get a home, we will never own a home.
Consider this belief, "We need to have enough money before we have children." With this belief you will NEVER have enough money and therefore will never have children. What about this thought, "I need to have enough money stashed away before I get married." This thought leaves one still single, waiting until they have just enough, but there is never enough. Have you ever heard this statement, "I need to get things right before I give my life to the Lord."
This concept is not found in Scripture, nor did Jesus tell us in the Bible that we need to have our affairs in order before we could accept His gift of salvation. If so, Heaven would be an empty place.
It's in Matthew 11:28-30 where He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
We also read in Romans 6:23, that "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
So, why do we live our lives trying to do more than just doing the next thing? I think we have this intense need to try and see beyond the future of the "what ifs" as well as a fear of commitment.
It is okay to step out in faith. Faith regarding a house, even if you don't have all the "tools"; faith regarding children, even if you don't have enough money saved, trust that God will provide. Faith to go ahead and ask her or accept his proposal, knowing that together you will be stronger than if apart; and faith to accept Christ’s gift of salvation even if you bring a lot of baggage. Don't worry he knows what to do with it when you lay it at His feet. Together you will "do the next thing" for the rest of your life.
My profound statement, next to Elisabeth's, "Get a pipe wrench". Don't wait to have everything right before you accept His gift. For one day you will turn around and find that you have missed the Gift Giver.
By Angel Thompson
Reprinted with permission
Section taken from True Intimacy
Copyright Year: © 2005
Published by Unleashing Potential Ministries
ISBN: 1-4116-3274-5
All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment