~ by Terry Walters
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; 2 Timothy 4:3-4
We lived near railroad tracks for the first 15 years of my life.
Trains came through at night -
often right after we went to bed.
Trains make lots of noise!
I remember that at first, the trains
were a nuisance and kept me from getting to sleep.
After a while though, the steady rumbling
of the train going down the tracks
would actually help me get to sleep.
It even got to where if I
couldn't get to sleep on my own,
I'd lie there hoping a train would come
along soon so I could get to sleep!
I have often thought that it can be that way with a pastor.
At first, our preaching stirs people and
they pay attention each new time for what God wants them to hear.
Later on, they get used to our ‘noise’ and
it lulls them to sleep - sometimes literally!
The Bible says, and I see it happening, that church folks
will seek preachers who will merely tell them
what they want to hear in order to feel good
and then they can remain complacent.
The newness wears off. The sense of urgency and
need for God's Word fades and
what used to stir us, no longer even bothers us.
It is challenging for a pastor to stay fresh with his messages.
It's not that people need to hear me,
but I am sharing God's Word and we all need to hear that.
Do whatever you must to always be attentive to God's Word -
whether someone is preaching or teaching,
or you are reading it for yourself.
Stay spiritually awake. Let the message
stir you, inspire you, motivate you to action.
Don't get so used to the words that you no longer even hear them.
Prayer: Dear Father, forgive us when we either don’t listen at all
or get so used to hearing Your message
that we do not take it to heart.
Give us the wisdom to know
the value of being in Your Word daily.
Help us with the desire to hear the truth
and let it do its work in our lives.
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