Good morning and happy Saturday. I hope that you had a good week and that your year is off to a great start.
As many of you know, I recently made the trek across the country to DC for the birth of our grandson. It was a little over 1100 miles of driving fun each way. On the way there, Michelle and I had the excitement of driving for hours and hours with drizzle freezing on our windshield. I am very grateful that it wasn’t impacting the roads at all or that would have been a nightmare. We just drove along with the defroster on full blast with the wipers on trying to keep the windshield clear. There were times when it worked very well and other times, not so much. One thing you are reminded of very quickly is that being able to see while driving at 70 mph in traffic is a good thing. When the conditions were just right so that the windshield froze over again and I was left with just a small area to see out of, well, that wasn’t the best. In fact, it was a bit stressful. Fortunately, this intermittent game of freeze-thaw only lasted about 500 or 600 miles. Other than that, a few hours of driving in dense fog and a few heavy downpours were the only weather issues on the entire 2200-mile round trip. That is actually quite remarkable considering the time of the year. There is often snow and ice across the country, especially in the mountainous regions. I am grateful that I didn’t have to travel in that.
As you travel, you do see a lot of things. There are some pretty parts of the country and some that aren’t in the running. Some states do a great job maintaining their highways and others don’t seem to be trying as hard. Some places that you stop have decent restrooms and others, oh my. Probably the thing that amuses and/or frustrates me the most are the other drivers. (of course, they might feel the same about me). You have the speed demons that are pedal to the metal regardless of the traffic or road conditions. Then you have the slow pokes that should be on a secondary roadway or at least have an orange triangle on the back of their car. I do find it interesting the drivers that think they are on the autobahn. They come flying up behind you and flash their lights expecting you to immediately get out of their way. Even if you are in the passing lane trying to go by a line of semi’s, they assume if they flash their lights, you will somehow magically be able to move over. I guess they have watched too many movies where a car actually fits under a semi-trailer. I will admit that there is this strange phenomenon that occurs when this happens. If someone is flashing their lights repeatedly and tailgating me, I somehow lose my motivation to speed up and get out of their way as fast as humanly possible. Fortunately, with the combination of maturity and recognition of the craziness of this world, that old sinful desire to gently tap or slam on the brakes is pretty much gone.
By far, the one thing that I noticed over and over is the inability of many people to drive at a consistent speed. Whenever the traffic isn’t really heavy, I like to use the cruise control. I find it makes it easier to take a quick nap on these long drives. In the times when I do have both my eyes open, I notice a lot of the cars driving in like a 10 or 15 mph range. There you are, driving at a consistent 70 mph. A car passes you going over 80. Then they get in your lane and slow down to 68. Then they speed up again. Then they slow down again. On and on it goes. If there is no other traffic you get into the passing lane at times when they are going slow. About the time you get near them or next to them, they speed up once again. It leaves you wondering if their car isn’t equipped with cruise control and why they can’t keep somewhat of a constant speed.
Being delirious from the long drive and a lack of Dr. Pepper, I started thinking about how this is like our lives sometimes. To be honest, most of us have a hard time being consistent in a lot of things. This time of year, many people have made commitments to improve certain things in their lives. The gyms will be packed, people will be on diets, athleisure wear sales will be booming. Some people will make a commitment to work out three times a day and only eat rice cakes for the whole year. Obviously, that is a scenario that likely will fail before December. Some people will make plans for other areas of their lives – financial, professional, educational, etc. The challenge is to be consistent in any area that you want to improve in. The same is true in our spiritual lives. It is amazing that you can actually read through the Bible in a year if you spend 12 to 15 minutes reading each day. That really isn’t a lot of time, especially if you maintain that throughout the year. Often what happens is that we start off good and then become hit or miss along the way. Then we have to play catch-up. In other words, we become inconsistent. We are like the drivers I mentioned earlier. I do think it is a good idea to seek to read the Bible each day. I like to read through it every year. I think it helps to have a little knowledge of the whole story. Of course, the Spirit of God will help you as your read the Word of God. He will help you to grow in your understanding. One thing that is not emphasized nearly as much as reading the Bible is the application of the Word in your life. I think it is often assumed, but it should likely be emphasized as much. That is really where the consistency in our walk comes in. We learn from the Word of God, and we seek to live by the Word. The application side of things is where we make things stick. The world in which we live in is confused and quite challenging. It can be like looking through a windshield that is most glazed over. At times, it seems like we get just a small area where we can see clearly. As you read your Bible and apply it to your life, you will discover that you will then be able to see things more clearly.
I guess the takeaway from all of this is simply to be more consistent in 2023. Be consistent in reading the Bible. Be consistent in applying what it says. Do this throughout the course of the year and you just might be surprised how far you go on this journey.
44 He told them, “These are my wordsthat I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,and the Psalmsmust be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance forforgiveness of sinswill be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnessesof these things. 49 And look, I am sending youwhat my Father promised.As for you, stay in the cityuntil you are empoweredfrom on high.” 50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God. (Luke 24)
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
0 Comments