“Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
August 25, 2024
I heard a silly story about a man who wanted to buy a parakeet. The store had two parakeets and the shop owner said, “I’ve got one parakeet for a hundred dollars that can sing and talk really well, and a twenty-five-dollar parakeet doesn’t sing but will talk a little.” The man decided on the twenty-five-dollar parakeet to save money. After a week he went back to the pet store and said, “He hasn’t said a word.” The owner replied, “He has to peck a little bell before he talks.” So, he bought the bell but there was still no word from the bird. The owner said, “He needs a little ladder to climb before he speaks.” So, he bought a little ladder. Finally, that bird pecked the bell, then he ran up and down the ladder and looked over at the man and said, “Don’t they sell any birdseed in that store that you go to?”
There are so many people who treat the Christian life that way. So many people are pecking bells and running up and down ladders, but activity is no substitute for the food of the Word of God. We need to value the ministry of the Word of God. The Church will be strong to the degree that its people maximize and emphasize the ministry of the Word of God, not only from the pulpit, but also in our classrooms, in our homes, and in our lives.
Pray and ask God to reveal the quick fixes you are looking to outside of Him.
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”