Acting Like It

January 5, 2009. Seems like the new year is already old. Our lives are so busy that nothing seems new for long. We find it necessary in our busy state to observe what's new and move on quickly. That present mindset of doing this and then moving on to that is really hurtful to us in many ways.

It affects our relationship with God in that we often don't dwell on the marvel of what we have been given for more than a moment before we are desirous of something else that is new and exciting.

We have been spoiled. We have too much. So much that we don't really appreciate anything God has given. We don't give thanks as we should. We don't "take on" over what He has done.

At Christmas, we gave gifts of cowboy outfits to three of our grandchildren. One was reasonably impressed and said "thanks". Another wasn't impressed at all and pretty much walked away from his. The third one took one look, put it on, and began to strut and pose and act like a cowboy. He was proud of his gift.

"Can I wear it to church?" he asked. "I want to change my name," he declared. "Mama, can I go to the courthouse and change my name to Lone Ranger?" I'm pretty sure he'll wear that cowboy outfit out long before the other two have gotten theirs good and dirty.

Now which reaction do you think these grandparents liked? Of course, we liked the excited, never want to take it off reaction. It made us feel great to know that we had hit a home run with the gift.

God gives us many gifts and we just look over them, move right past them, sort of say "thank you" but without much enthusiasm. He reveals such wonderful truths to us in His Word and yet we read it carelessly, if at all.

Let's let this year be different. Let's take to heart what God had David write in the very first Psalm, verse 2, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night."

Now our son has reassured us that both the other children will come around to enjoy their cowboy outfits. How wonderful would it be if we could reassure God that this year, 2009, we would come around to delighting, meditating, and growing in His Word?

He gave it to us so that we could be close to Him, learn of Him, and love Him more and more each day. If that's not what's happening, we are neglecting, looking over, moving right on by a wonderful gift.

Let's not look for something new and exciting. Let's just take the time to develop a great love for something old and yet life-changing that we already have. Pick up that Bible, folks, and spend time with God. He is on every page, waiting for you.

In His Love
Walter