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Scripture for the day: Psalm 126:1-3 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.
Thought for the day: Ah, New Year’s! That time of the year when we can erase that tired old chalkboard that lists all the mistakes and bad decisions that have been made over the past 365 days; that time when we can begin to write all new mistakes and bad decisions. Listen, if you’re writing all the same mistakes as you’ve been recording over the past years, you’re doing something wrong. There are too many new and exciting mistakes to be made for us to continue doing the same ones over and over. So, just for now, let’s begin the new year on a lighter note, realizing that all sorts of very serious situations will inevitably come our way. Let me tell you a story.
A fire started in some grasslands near a farm. The county fire department was called to put out the fire. The fire was more than the county fire department could handle. Someone suggested that a nearby volunteer bunch be called. Despite some doubt that the volunteer outfit would be of any assistance, the call was made.
The volunteers arrived in a dilapidated old fire truck. They rumbled straight toward the fire, drove right into the middle of the flames, and stopped. The volunteers jumped off the truck and frantically started spraying water in all directions. Soon they had snuffed out the center of the fire, breaking the blaze into two easily controlled parts.
Watching all this, the farmer was so impressed with the volunteer fire department's work and so grateful that his farm had been spared, that right there on the spot he presented the volunteers with a check for $1,000. A local news reporter asked the volunteer fire captain what the department planned to do with the funds.
"That ought to be obvious," he responded, wiping ashes off his coat. "The first thing we're gonna do is get the brakes fixed on our fire truck!"
So why do we want to start out with a laugh today? Well, other than the fact that a good punch line can get our creative juices flowing (not like a strong cup of coffee, but that’s another issue), I think it’s good to remember that God has a sense of humor. And what is it that tickles His funny bone? God laughs at those who work so hard at trying to be Him. He must shake His head in wonder as people run about on the earth pretending to be God and forgetting that only He can fulfill that role. He must really wonder at those trying to be Him are claiming to be following Him.
People think they can get along without His power, forgetting that only God can create a real life, or sustain the one they already have. People think they have a right to control how things work on the earth because they are at least as smart as the Lord. And it would all be really funny if it weren’t so tragic. The real tragedy is that the same attitude has been around for so many years; ever since Adam and Eve really. Take a very quick run through your Bible and you’ll see that every time a person, man or woman, got into trouble it was when they thought they knew better than God how things ought to work out. Can you imagine how much the world would change today if every Christian (not even every human being, just the 2 billion or so who call themselves by the name of Christ) would spend the day actually putting into practice the belief that God really does know best? I can’t even begin to fathom the changes that would take place in our communities around the world – but I’d give a lot to see it.
So, just for today – or just for the next ten minutes – let’s covenant together to let God be God. If we can do that for the next ten minutes, I think we could do it for the ten that come after that, and then the next ten, and so on until, lo and behold, we will have allowed God His rightful place for the entire day. And just think, if we could do that for one whole day, why not two, or three, or even our whole lives. Wow! What a concept!
Now go take on your world. - Bill