August 30, 2019

Recycle from Daily Devotional April 6, 2017

The following devotional is not for the faint of heart. So if you are easily grossed out, stop reading.

Mike sent me the following story and said, “If you can turn this into a devotional you are a true master!”

I’ve always wanted to be a “true master,” so here it goes.

Here’s one for you from Brisbane, Australia:

A group of friends who all attended the same church wanted to get together on a regular basis, socialize, and play games. They would meet in each home in rotation and the residents of that house would provide a meal.

When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts, Janet wanted to do something special. She decided to have mushroom-smothered steak. But when she checked at the local greengrocer she was shocked at the cost of their mushrooms. Regretfully she told her husband, “Mushrooms are out. They’re too expensive.”

He said, “Why don’t you go down in the back paddock and pick some of those mushrooms. There are plenty down near the creek.”

She said, “No, some wild mushrooms are poison.”

He said, “Well, I see rabbits eating them and they don’t seem to suffer any ill effects.”

So Janet decided to give it a try. She picked a basket full, then washed, peeled and sliced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back verandah and gave Ol’ Spot (the dog) a dish of the mushrooms. Ol’ Spot ate every bite. All morning long, Janet watched Ol’ Spot and the wild mushrooms didn’t seem to affect him, so she decided to use them.

The meal was a great success. After everyone had finished, they relaxed, socialized, and played 21 and dominoes. But then a neighbor knocked on the door and said, Mrs. Williams I am sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but Ol’ Spot is dead.”

Janet went into hysterics.

After she finally calmed down, she called the doctor and told him what had happened.

The doctor said, “That’s bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quickly as possible. We’ll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone’s stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them calm.”

Soon an ambulance arrived. The paramedics and the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump.

One by one, each person was taken into the bathroom and given an enema. Then his or her stomach was pumped out.

After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, “I think everything will be fine now,” and he left.

They were all looking pretty weak as they sat around the living room. The neighbor, who had stayed at the house through all the drama, sank into a seat beside Janet.

“You know, he never even stopped.” she said

“Who do you mean? Asked Janet.

“The fellow who ran over Ol’ Spot!”

The moral of the story is always have all the information before you make a decision. This is especially true when it comes to scripture.

Throughout my years in the ministry, I have come across people who read a little scripture and think they know exactly what the Bible says. They are usually wrong.

This includes prohibiting women from serving as clergy; the subservience of a wife in the marriage, the understanding that anyone who remarries after divorce commits adultery, God causing tragedies to punish people, God temping us to sin, only certain pre-selected people will go to heaven, everything in our lives is already predetermined, and the list goes on and on…

The answer to understanding what the Bible really says is to read the entire Bible and go to Bible studies.

Paul said, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

So invest time in understanding what God says to us throughout the entire Bible. You will be glad you did.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, use your word to make me the person you want me to be. Fill my mind with wisdom, my heart with compassion, and my spirit with joy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

That’s the best I could do. I am curious to see if Mike will think I am a “True Master.”

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins