Confessions of a lifer…
Posted by pastorpic on January 18, 2009
I don’t have much time – but this came to mind during my reading this morning.
I was, for the most part, raised in the church (not literally – but as long as I can remember, we were going to every church function offered.) The Bible has always been special to me – I remember sleeping with my Bible when I was 12-14 years old. I would fall asleep reading it and wake up to read it. I love God’s word.
Last year, I finished reading the Bible for the 10th time – 5 times in the last 3 years. I love the book.
But sometimes, I get to familiar passages, and I find myself wanting to skim through it. It’s the old “I already know this” mindset.
So, this morning I got the 2×4. I was reading in Luke 8 – and I came to the very familiar Parable of the Sower. I know the parable, know the explanation, etc. – so I was just kind of skimming through. Then, I came to verse 16 – and again, very familiar – you don’t put a lamp under a bed or a basket… Then, verse 18. Here’s how it reads in the Holman CSB:
Therefore, take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.
Wow! I’m sure those in the church have discussed that verse in different ways in the past – but as I was skimming this morning, God was reminding me – take care how you listen, Mike. In every passage, those who have will receive more – but there’s the requirement of having care while we listen. Skimming isn’t going to get the job done – have care while we listen.
In the same way – falling into patterns of just showing up, singing familiar songs, hearing familiar passages, saying hi to familiar people isn’t going to cut it in church, either. If we want to keep growing – we need to have care how we listen. Then, if we have, we’ll receive more – but if we are careless – even what we think we have will be taken away. There really is no plateau in the Christian faith – you’re either growing, or shrinking.
And we see that, if we’re honest, don’t we? We see that people don’t really remain at a level of spiritual growth. If they don’t keep growing, they begin to be overwhelmed by the cares of the world. They begin to drift off center.
So – it was a good message for me, this morning – a reminder to not skim – but to listen carefully. Hope it’s a good reminder for you also!
