White lines
Another roadworks analogy today.
They are repainting the white lines at the top of our road. I had to drive right across a freshly painted line as I overtook the lorry which was carrying the paint and the workers yesterday. When you see them out there painting away you suddenly take a look at the lines you drive past and over every day and realise that they do, indeed, get very worn out and dirty and need to be freshened up on a regular basis.
The lines on the road are demarcations. They show where we can go and where we can't. They keep us safe. And although they are essential, for the most part we barely even notice them. A bit like God's rules for living. Mostly we doddle along through our lives not really having to think much about killing anyone, or stealing from them. Or even coveting our neighbour ass. It is second nature to us to not cheat and lie and steal...... mostly. But what about the other rules for living that have perhaps become invisible to us on our daily trip down life's roads? Sabbath. Tithing. Honouring our parents. Paying taxes. Not gossiping. Being holy.
We need guidelines. God has given us lots. And in this time of lock in and shutdown we probably need them more than ever. A friend of mine used to run a charity in Africa in an area of the world where there was little rain and people lived in abject poverty. Her charity initially was set up to provide education for poor children, but it soon became apparent that you cant educate children if they are starving. So the school they built included a farm where food could be grown for the kids and their families to eat. But its very hard farming in drought. Obviously. How could the school manage to do any better than any of the other farmers in the area who were struggling and failing to grow crops? My friend decided to go to the Bible for answers. In the Old Testament there are specific instructions about how to manage and farm land. Crop rotation and all sorts. She and her team studied Biblical principles and decided to farm God's way. Guess what? 😀
Lots of us are going to be tightening our belts, changing the way we live and interact, shifting our priorities and doing alot more family time and alone time in coming days. Government is giving us guidelines all the time. But government guidelines arent the only ones we need to be paying attention to. God can help us to manage this well if we read His word and do what He says. We need to have our focus on Him not on Covid 19, be kind to each other, generous to the poor, and be making our requests known in prayer to the one who has promised to meet all our needs. We need to be thankful in ALL circumstances, ask for wisdom, respect our leaders and wash our hands!
They are repainting the white lines at the top of our road. I had to drive right across a freshly painted line as I overtook the lorry which was carrying the paint and the workers yesterday. When you see them out there painting away you suddenly take a look at the lines you drive past and over every day and realise that they do, indeed, get very worn out and dirty and need to be freshened up on a regular basis.The lines on the road are demarcations. They show where we can go and where we can't. They keep us safe. And although they are essential, for the most part we barely even notice them. A bit like God's rules for living. Mostly we doddle along through our lives not really having to think much about killing anyone, or stealing from them. Or even coveting our neighbour ass. It is second nature to us to not cheat and lie and steal...... mostly. But what about the other rules for living that have perhaps become invisible to us on our daily trip down life's roads? Sabbath. Tithing. Honouring our parents. Paying taxes. Not gossiping. Being holy.
We need guidelines. God has given us lots. And in this time of lock in and shutdown we probably need them more than ever. A friend of mine used to run a charity in Africa in an area of the world where there was little rain and people lived in abject poverty. Her charity initially was set up to provide education for poor children, but it soon became apparent that you cant educate children if they are starving. So the school they built included a farm where food could be grown for the kids and their families to eat. But its very hard farming in drought. Obviously. How could the school manage to do any better than any of the other farmers in the area who were struggling and failing to grow crops? My friend decided to go to the Bible for answers. In the Old Testament there are specific instructions about how to manage and farm land. Crop rotation and all sorts. She and her team studied Biblical principles and decided to farm God's way. Guess what? 😀Lots of us are going to be tightening our belts, changing the way we live and interact, shifting our priorities and doing alot more family time and alone time in coming days. Government is giving us guidelines all the time. But government guidelines arent the only ones we need to be paying attention to. God can help us to manage this well if we read His word and do what He says. We need to have our focus on Him not on Covid 19, be kind to each other, generous to the poor, and be making our requests known in prayer to the one who has promised to meet all our needs. We need to be thankful in ALL circumstances, ask for wisdom, respect our leaders and wash our hands!
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts
maybe if we had all followed that rule we would not be in the position we are in right now!!
Comments
Post a Comment