July 31, 2020

Rerun of Daily Devotional July 31, 2017

My youngest daughter’s dearest friend is Kayla.  She and Caitlyn Su grew up together and were roommates at A&M.  She is now a dietician.

This past Saturday at my grandson’s birthday party, Kayla was telling me about her job and I said, “Tell me the truth.  Kale is a fad, isn’t it?” 

A look of genuine disbelief was on her face as she began to tell me ways to hide kale’s bitter taste with other foods.  One example was mashing kale into an avocado.  That’s just wrong.

And while Kayla would not come out and admit that I was right.  I could tell by the way she was talking that deep down she knew I had hit the nail on the head.  I could hear it in her voice.

Have you ever noticed that we have a tendency to hear exactly what we want to hear?  This happens to me all the time.

The problem is that when it comes to being a follower of Christ, there are things that we want to hear and things that we don’t.

I am very good with hearing how God loves, guides, and saves me.  But I really don’t like those portions of scripture that show I am petty, arrogant, hardheaded, selfish, miserly, impatient, and unkind, the list goes on and on…

I like to hear the good stuff but don’t like to hear about my own shortcomings because I would have to admit that I am wrong and still a work in progress.  But if I am going to be true to God, then I must be willing to hear both the good and the bad. 

As Paul tells Timothy, people only want to hear what makes them comfortable, complacent, and happy.  He said,  “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”  (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

God is continually calling us to a better way of living in this world.  Part of that is helping us see our own shortcomings, deficiencies, and sins.  It is a necessary part of growing closer to our Maker.  It is only then that we can make the necessary changes.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, open my ears so that I may truly hear your message for me.  Open my mind so that I can truly comprehend what I am to learn.  Open my heart so that you may fill it with love, grace, and mercy.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

God is trying to shape you into the person he wants you to be.  What is God saying to you?

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins