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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 16, 2005 EASY |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, February 16, 2005 By
Penny Risen
Matthew
7: 7-11
We’re a nation in a hurry. We Americans want things fast and easy.
Fast food; express lanes at our bank or grocery store; speedy oil changes and brake service; quick starts to our diets or self-improvement plans; shortcuts for everything from making dinner to learning to play the piano; speed dialing; pop tops; instant coffee/tea/soup/breakfast; Instant Messaging!
Our sports heroes are in such a hurry to bulk up their bodies, they risk taking
drugs like steroids to add muscle and achieve athletic prowess.
Did I access the easy “Biblegateway.com” to copy this verse from Matthew via
computer, instead of hunting down my leather bound Bible and slowly typing it?
You betcha.
“Ask,
and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks
it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his
child asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a
fish, will he give him a snake? If you then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
This beautiful, reassuring lesson from Jesus reminds us that God is in charge, not His children. It’s easier to trust God, than to trust our own agenda or to keep checking our watches or day planners. God knows what is best for us and He will provide, Jesus says. The Lord made His biggest sacrifice for us in His Son, didn’t He? So, take it easy and be patient.
But life’s short, we think to ourselves. Why not grab what we can when we can? Why wait? We’ll hurry and solve this problem or challenge ourselves; who needs intervention? In fact, the Bible tells us many times that God has His own timetable, and what seems like an eternity to us is only an instant to Him.
Perhaps you’ve asked and prayed for something urgently, even painfully. You wonder if He thinks your request or question is selfish or silly or irrelevant. Maybe it’s too much to ask Him, or so small it will get lost amid bigger things God has to concern Himself with. You wonder if He’s listening and worry about when He’ll answer your prayer.
Of course, He hears and knows what’s in your heart, but how and when He answers is easy. “In God’s good time,” my grandmother used to say, when my brothers and I were eager and impatient children. God listens and is active in our lives, despite our rush.
“How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Waiting may be hard, but faith can be easy.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, I try hard to wait on You when I pray. Forgive me when I’m in a hurry and not willing to give faith a chance. Deep down, I know Your love will see me through and Your hand guides all I do. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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