Back to You Later

We want instant gratification, our needs unequivocally met and a listeners undivided attention. In a world of technology, our patience quickly dwindles when a business we call puts us on hold. Next to that dilemma, this response is as annoying as lukewarm coffee: “I’ll get back with you later.” Don’t you just hate that? Sometimes contacts postpone conversations of urgency putting us on hold. It is a serious mistake to postpone God: “I’ll get back to you later.”

“As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you (Acts 24:25 NIV).” We can tag stores as “convenience,” and shop whenever we please. On the other hand, issues relating to salvation, where we will spend eternity- need our immediate attention. We have no guarantee of seeing tomorrow and it may be later than we know…

 

 

Don’t Cross Me!

In anger, a person makes a threat. “Don’t you cross me!” No one enjoys being threatened and intimidated. The old self-preservation mode automatically kicks in and we feel compelled to retaliate. “I’ll show you who you are trying to push around!” We get our hackles up and our resistance to temptation down. There is a far better response. I choose to cross them.

Jesus alone, through his death on the cross can produce peace. “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20 NIV).” Now, I am onto something. He reconciles; he makes peace.

He powers peace and reconciliation with others through our reconciliation with him. “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:22 NIV). He frees us from making both false and justified accusations. He frees the accused. “I’m crossing you; please cross me!”

Day Planner

What’s on your schedule? Are you free for lunch? These questions are not voiced only to business executives or government leaders, but also to busy students and homemakers. We all seem to be rushing from one activity to the next, hardly leaving time to catch our breath.

 Convenient day planners make nice gifts and come in a variety of sizes and styles. I believe we have a market for hour planners as well. Maybe then we could squeeze in a fast lunch. Better yet, let’s do brunch, then I can combine two meals.          

Do things always go according to schedule? Of course they don’t. Interruptions and cancellations get everything off track; make sure you have an eraser handy. Could we try an experiment and boldly do a few things on the spur of the moment? Maybe we could mark one day of the week on our calendars with a big question mark. God might have some surprises in store. He controls time and will help us to use it wisely.

 “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this and that (James 4:13-15 NKJ).” Plan ahead, but leave room for God to pencil in divine appointments.