I love good bread. In fact, that’s how I decide if a restaurant is any good. If the bread is good, I know the other food is going to be good also. So a few years ago, I decided we needed a bread maker. We didn’t just piddle around with bread. We NEEDED a bread maker. We did make several loaves of bread. I’m not sure how long it was in the basement before I even realized it was not in the kitchen anymore. Even as a child, I loved getting the paint by number artwork. (I know I’m really showing my age.) I was so excited about getting a new picture to paint but I’m not sure I ever finished one and the only time I ever put a model car together I had a whole bunch of parts/pieces left over because I didn’t want to fool around with making sure every part was in there. I just wanted to be done with it. I don’t even have to mention the thing in our bedroom that I put my suit on after I get home from church about noon on Sundays. It hangs there until I get ready to go back to church on Sunday night. I know it is supposed to serve another purpose (it’s a treadmill) but it works great to hold my clothes on Sunday afternoons. I like to read. In fact, I like to read so well that I usually have about four or five books started. Of course, for some of them I would have to go back and start all over on them because it’s been so long since I started them, I have no idea about the details. In my defense, I have finished every John Grisham book I have ever started. We all have a collection of unfinished projects. There are some books and exercise programs too. Things started but left unfinished. Do you finish everything you start? I imagine not. And to be honest, some things aren’t worth finishing. But don’t think, even for a second, that you can put God in your collection of unfinished projects. For starters, he isn’t a “project.” Besides, he’s not going to sit on a shelf contentedly waiting for you to give him your attention once the kids are grown or the retirement is funded or other tasks are completed. The Israelites learned that lesson the hard way. They returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild the temple. They started strong but in time turned their attention to other endeavors. What was important to God became unimportant to them. Sixteen years passed without any work being done on the temple. So God allowed drought and downturns and difficulties to come upon them. And he said, “Give careful thought to your ways” (Haggai 1:5, 7). God is either the main thing in your life or he is nothing. At the end of the day, each of us is responsible for our own schedule. There is really no such thing as partial obedience. God begins as the priority and then we schedule time with him. We schedule the things that are important to him. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God . . .” (Matthew 6:33). The Jews eventually got back to God’s priorities and took part in one of the greatest works of heaven. You can too. There are some things worth finishing. If you’ve allowed your relationship with Christ to take a back seat, I’m inviting you to renew that relationship and to allow it to have the priority it deserves. Join us in worship on Sunday morning or find another church this weekend. If your relationship with Christ is already a priority, then I encourage you to invite someone to come with you. It’s worth it.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 01:18:25 +0000
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