April 20
Josh 21:1-22:20 | PS 89:1-13 | Prov 13:15-16 | Luke 20:1-26
Every morning, with rare exception, I begin in God's Word. I spend time reading through the readings listed in the Bible Plan, meditate on those words, take notes, perhaps look at some commentary, then allow God to direct my thoughts in writing these posts. This time every morning is essential as it sets the tone for my entire day. This quiet time of meditation and reflection is followed by my setting my path into whatever the day has planned for me, on most days seeing somewhere between 25-35 patients, or managing patients in the hospital. The other day I saw a long term patent of mine. She is in her mid fifties, and has a child under ten. At the conclusion of our appointment, she thanked me for a conversation we had close to ten years previously when she first shockingly found out that she was pregnant (she has other children). She did not expect this child and truthfully was not happy to find herself pregnant and was contemplating abortion. According to her, I talked about God's plans, and told her my own story of beng born to parents in their mid to late forties. I don't have any recollection of this conversation, but she chose life for her son and states she couldn't imagine life without him. The point I am trying to make, is that these interactions and conversations are often unplanned. We all have them daily. The question is do we meander through our day. For me, am I counting how many patients I have left before I get to go home, or do I enter each room filled with a patient not knowing what conversation God has planned for me.
We see Joshua's words to the two and one-half tribes returning to the east side of the Jordan in Joshua 22:4-5, "And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” His words of preparedness for the life they were entering can not be missed. In our reading in Luke, as Jesus is navigating one confrontation after another on His path to the cross, we notice that Jesus is never just meandering aimlessly. He is focused and prepared for whatever arguments or attacks come His way. But this is what we have observed in Jesus' entire ministry, when He healed and taught. We often see Him pulling away for a time of prayer with His Father.
If you get up each day, with the alarm clock set with just enough time for a quick shower, cup of coffee, and just the amount of time for your commute to work, classes, or whatever you have planned for the day, how can you expect to be prepared for that conversation or interaction which seems to come up unexpectedly. Without some time with the Holy Spirit, you will miss the opportunities God sends your way. God knows what He has prepared for you this day, but you don't. You can make a difference in someone's life today, but not if you are going through the motions, or worse than that simply trying to get by, to what you deem your finish line, which is returning home. Life is indeed full of opportunities, the question is, are we ready for these opportunities?
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: