Dave’s Monday Blast – July 25, 2016
I just returned from a wonderful time away with my beautiful bride. We were celebrating an anniversary this past week. We both grew up in the Pismo Beach area and enjoy the ocean…so we found ourselves on a beach. We spent quite a bit of time in the waves, and a bit more watching others enjoy the water. We must have laughed for twenty minutes straight one afternoon observing a young couple attempting to enter the surf to go snorkeling.
It was not the right time of day to attempt this specific activity. The swell was up and they were flung about relentlessly upon the shore like rag dolls. Face down, bottoms up, chasing errant flippers and goggles that had been removed from their feet and faces. We should not have laughed at their futile efforts…but my goodness, it was hilarious. It was one of those potentially viral YouTube videos. Alas, we did not think to grab our camera phones to film until it was over. I must say…they were persistent…but never successful! Wisely, they eventually gave up and limped off down the beach.
As I reflected upon the futile efforts of this young couple attempting to best a power beyond their control I was reminded of man’s efforts to understand his place in the world. We desperately want to be in control of our circumstances. We want others to behave as we know we must as followers of Christ, but find that the worldview divide is enormous. Recently, former President George Bush spoke at a memorial service for those officers murdered in Dallas. He said, “Americans, have a great advantage. To renew our unity, we only need to remember our values. We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit, by shared commitments to common ideals. At our best, we honor the image of God we see in one another. We recognize that we are brothers and sisters, sharing the same brief moment on Earth and owing each other loyalty of our shared humanity.”
In other words, the closer we draw to our Father, the closer we draw to each other. He quoted Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” Human words and efforts cannot change human hearts. The One who made us is the only One who can change us. This means my brothers that Christians are on the front lines of this conflict, the only salt and light in a culture dying for truth and hope. In confronting the divisions of our day, the church must be the church. Dallas Pastor Tony Evans explains it this way, “The church must unite as a solemn assembly with prayer and fasting, to train our members to be verbal and visible followers of Jesus, and to unite for good works in our communities. This is our God-given role of influencing the conscience of our culture. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, wherever our Master leads.”
Our service and devotion must INTENTIONALLY be to Jesus as our Lord and then to our neighbor as ourselves. We cannot battle the wind and waves in our own strength…Peter learned this truth on Galilee. That young couple likely learned that truth just the other day.
It begs the question…how will we fulfill our calling to bear His image well during this week before us?
