Kids, here's a very important lesson about life; READ THE WHOLE SIGN. Don't just glance at the details on a sign for something you're attending or planning to attend, or some sign posted on a door you're about to enter. Read it all. Had I done that today, the amazing spaghetti dinner (and I'm not usually a big spagghetti fan) would have gone from a filling, one plate helping, into a massive, stuffed-for-three days, multi-plate-covering heaping of delectable Italian fantasticalness. Somehow, the words "all-you-can-eat" alluded me when I entered. But perhaps it was for the better. Had I been left unchecked there may have been a world-wide meatball shortage.
Something I either heard, read, or somehow concluded in the past week is what I'd like to discuss today. So thanks to whoever inspired the thought, and I apologize for not remembering where I picked it up, but as we just discovered, apparently some details escape me at times.
One thing we can definitely say about Jesus is he was disciplined and focused in completing the work God laid before Him. There seems to be no indication He ever wandered aimlessly or did anything without a bigger purpose. Even the glimpse we get of His childhood is one of a young Jesus preparing for His ministry some 18+ years off. I don't even prepare for work some 18 minutes off, let alone years, so for me, that's pretty dedicated.
In the current American lifestyle, time is a very valuable asset, and a commodity rarer than some precious metals. We have our days scheduled and booked, right down to times to when we'll stop to eat, sleep, and I'm sure if we could schedule it, we'd even regulate some unavoidable body functions for better convenience. (Porta-Johns in the car?) Our spiritual lives are no different and we lay out plans while emulating Christ, setting times for gatherings, evangelism, study, serving, and the like.
While this is all well and good, sometimes we book ourselves so heavy, even with spiritual things, we have no flexibility for those spontaneous moments where our services would be better utilized and where God's glory could shine brighter than any pre-set activity. Our heart to be like Christ and to be responsible with the time God's given us is amazing, but one thing I'm learning about Jesus is this:
Jesus had a plan, a goal, a purpose, but He never seemed to have a definitive schedule.
Even though everything we read Him doing in the Gospels was in God's glory, and all was the will of the Father, we never read of a daily itinerary. In fact, we often see Him deviate from His plan just to assist those spontaneous moments of need. When He's going to heal Jairus' daughter, He stops to address the bleeding woman. (Mark 5) When He takes the disciples away to a secluded place after they had returned from Him sending them out, the crowds find them and He never turns them away, instead teaching and healing and even feeding them. (Luke 9) Would any have blamed Him for continuing with His original plan without deviating to assist these other needs? I don't think so, but that's not His way. He always welcomed unexpected events, occurrences, and never seemed stressed by "inconveniences" when they delayed His plan.
Schedules aren't bad and being a good steward with time is vital to being productive, especially in the land of distraction that we currently reside in. But look at your schedule and reflect on your past few months. Are you so busy you've missed those spontaneous moments? Have you passed chances to serve because you were on your way to some event and couldn't be late? Remember Mary and Martha. Martha's serving was noble, but Jesus said Mary chose the better. She chose Jesus. Shouldn't we?
Brett "If I put on my schedule to do something spontaneous, is it still spontaneous?" Hibbler
good thought:)
ReplyDelete