Daily Devotional for March 30, 2023

Melanie’s father is awesome.  He’s 96 years old and just bought a new full-size, four-wheel drive, pickup truck.

When Melanie told me this, knowing her father’s mobility issues, I asked how he was able to climb into such a tall truck.

She said, “Pastor Tom, I don’t get it.  He’s 96 years old.  We had to have a stool made so he could get into the truck.  He’s only driven it once.”

Melanie doesn’t understand her father.

Ellie’s husband is Drew.  He’s awesome.  Unfortunately, Drew has unexpected seizures that come on with absolutely no warning.

Ellie told me this past Sunday; Drew climbed a tall ladder to reach the top of their chimney so he could install a cover.  

Ellie watched in panic mode as Drew climbed the ladder with one hand while carrying the heavy, metal chimney cover with the other.  She was terrified at any moment Drew would have a seizure.

The next morning, Ellie asked Drew why he thought it was a good idea to climb a ladder, while carrying chimney cover, with the possibility a seizure happening at any moment.

Ellie doesn’t understand her husband.

Realizing there may be a pattern to these conversations, I asked Pastor Kit if there was something about him that Pastor Leslie didn’t understand.

He said, “She doesn’t understand why I have to have a third barbell when I only have two hands.”

So, I asked Leslie if she understood why Kit needed a third barbell?  She sighed and said, “No, I don’t.”

Leslie doesn’t understand her husband.

It is clear that women don’t understand men, so, for all you confused women out there, let me explain.

It is clear in the story of creation, God made man first.  That means, men are the prototype, the first addition, or as they say in the I.T. world, the BETA version, which means it still has a lot of flaws.  That’s what men are.

When God realized just how many flaws were in men, he decided to make a new, improved version with significantly few flaws.  That was the moment God made women.

Sadly, the newer, improved version of humanity has trouble understanding the reasoning of the older version of humanity.  I am allowed to admit this because I am one.

I say this because we live in a world where the newer version of humanity still faces a lot of discrimination and is relegated to second class status.  We see this in the business world where women are paid significantly less than men.  We see this in many parts of the world where women are required to completely cover every square inch of their bodies and are not allowed to speak to males outside of their family.  We even see this in some Christian denominations where they believe the Bible prohibits women from being in leadership.  This is based on an interpretation of scripture that does not take context into account.

I do not believe God intended one gender to be superior to the other.  We each have an equal role to play.

This is why Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. “(Galatians 3:28)

If God sees males and females as equals, so should we.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please remove any bigotry and bias from my eyes and heart.  Help me to see everyone as your child.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

The world will be a much better place when discrimination fades into the past.  I am optimistic it will happen.

Also, just for the record, while women may not understand men, I know for a fact, men don’t understand women.  Let me give you an example.

When I asked Melissa if there is anything she doesn’t understand about Scott, she said, “He never gets mad at me.  Even when I try to make him mad, he won’t get mad at me.”

What?

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