Turn off the play...

 

There was a TV program I was watching and I became interested in the final moments, as it built up to a climatic end. I was on the edge of my seat in wonder as to how this show would end… then the phone rang,  I thought, “not now.” I thought it in a bad timing way, not a mean way at all. Then, I thought, “this could be a person returning my call, caring about me.” I just nearly pondered the thought that I could let the answering machine get it, but I don’t think I even completed that thought as an option because I was sure I knew who it was and he deserved my attention. I thought, “well, I’ll just turn the TV down and watch the ending as I talk and went to the phone to talk.” It ended up being a wrong number. Then, it hit me. I was just tested by God (Exodus 20:20). I was tested in caring for others, compassion, love, putting others before myself and shown how I need to die more to the world. I did not feel well about my selfish thought. I felt so convicted and horrible about this that I can’t even tell you.

 

I took a look at myself and was disgusted. I should be above these selfish decisions by now. What is wrong with me? (Romans 7:14-25)

I saw how this program went on for hours only for that one moment of time. That moment to test my heart. A moment too quick for my mind to come up with the righteous answer… a test of the heart, where I feel like I failed. Forgive me God. I wondered how many phones rang across the United States at that time? Probably quite a few. I am not the only person God is testing.

 

I then took a step back to look at how bad I could have done in the test. I could have decided to let the phone machine get the call or I could have thought, uncaringly, “I don’t want to speak to anyone. I’m seeing the end of this.” I had to not see this as a complete failure. I did see that I decided to get up and take the call because I valued this person as a child of God. I also know that if I could not have heard the person well I would have turned the volume all the way down... and that’s about as good as I could see any positives in myself.

 

This all may sound like nothing to you but when you see the reason for the phone call at that particular time and how God is looking at our hearts in these moments, it IS a BIG DEAL.

 

I realized how important it is to turn off the play and turn to people. Where is the real world happening anyhow? Is it the TV  show or is it the person wanting to speak to you? Is it the basketball game or is it the people you ignore, or cast aside, to see the final shot? Is it the score of your golf game that captivates you or the conversation about Jesus with a stranger you enjoy? Where is the play you need to turn off? Where are the moments you are quietly being tested and how do you fare? Take a look at yourself, as I am looking at myself (Lamentations 3:40).

 

 

God knew that I would notice this test of His and He knew I would write about it also. Maybe it was not such a failure if it gets you to think about your soul and to realize that God is testing you and watching you. How does your heart fare in such tests?

 

As this has turned out, I have learned a great lesson. I have asked God’s forgiveness for my selfishness. I will remember this night and this test. I pray it will teach me to make a concentrated effort and a decision to be more caring of others over myself. In time it is my heartfelt prayer that such caring, by Jesus molding me, will change my heart to the point that my initial thought will be “OFF WITH THE PLAY! There is a person calling or knocking at my door.”

 

Looking at the big picture (the forest, after having seen the trees) by God’s word, I see that I did get up to get the phone after initially not wanting to, similar to the parable of two sons… (I think it’s important to look at your thoughts, decisions and actions from the view of many Bible verses to see the negatives and the positives… unless God just takes you to one) and I do see how I have, by God’s leading, turned something negative into something positive by taking the time to write here to get you to think. You are reading this because God brought you here to think about this. There are no accidents or coincidences.

 

 

Parable of Two Sons

Matthew 21:28-32

 28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' 29 "And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 "The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, 'I will, sir'; but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 "For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.

John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

 

If you’re not saved, Come to Jesus!