MESSAGES
"If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve"
—Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
While attempting to get into my car, I could not for the sake of me, get my door open. I peered down at the lock and was able to see that the door was in the unlocked position, and yet I could not pull it open. I exerted such force and energy that my left arm is now 3" longer than my right. Was I losing my strength! Was I overdosing on pizza! Could I not even open a silly car door!
After a few moments I realized who the silly one was as I was able to discover why it would not open for me. You see, I was pulling with my left arm, while I pushed with my right arm. As I had my left hand on the door handle, I also had my right hand resting against the top of the door. While pulling on the handle, I was also pushing on the door. When I told my wife what I had done, she simply replied, "Dear, you're not losing you strength. You're losing your mind!" Hey! Quit laughing! You'll be my age one of these days.
I share this humiliating story with you because it reminds me of our spiritual service to the Lord. As much as we want to serve the Lord, we quite often find our self pulling and pushing at the same time.
Here's what I mean. We struggle against ourselves. With the one hand, we have an excitement to serve the Lord, and with the other hand we start coming up with excuses for why we aren't serving the Lord. With the one hand, we ask God to open the door for us so that we can serve Him, and with the other hand we push against it to keep it closed.
God wants to open the door and we often close it with an excuse. God truly wants to bless us, and we quite often won't allow ourselves to receive the blessing. The best counsel I can give to the excuse making person is this, "If you have an excuse, don't use it."
When Moses was told to go and bring God's people out of Egypt, he said, "Lord, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" When Jeremiah was appointed a prophet to the nations, he said to the Lord, "Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth." What did the Lord God say to these men in response? He said, "I will certainly be with you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you."
When the door opens, don't push it closed. Instead, by faith step through it and allow God to work in and through you to minister to others.
"But as for me and my household, we will serve
the Lord"
—Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Pull don't push,
Pastor / Chaplain Steve |
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| SHIELD OF FAITH |
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For more information,
call (951) 687-6902
Attention Juanita
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