Sunday Was Yesterday
What did you do with your Sunday? Was it a sacred and holy day? Did you spend time in prayer? Did you fellowship with others who have the mind of Christ? Did you read the Bible? Did you think about life and death, heaven and hell, and the choices you are making that will determine your eternal destiny? Did you think about mercy and grace? Did you think about values of life and by what values you will base your choices?
In Colorado a specialty baker was asked to prepare a wedding cake for two men. The baker refused. When asked why he refused and what his plans were the baker responded that he is opposed to gay marriage and that he will close the bakery before preparing a wedding cake for same sex marriages.
How strongly do you feel about your values? Are you willing to make a hard decision that could cost you money, persecution, even your life?
It is Monday. How did Sunday set the stage for Monday? What did you do Sunday that will make this Monday and this week different from last Monday and last week? Have you checked your GPS? Do you have it set on places to eat and entertainment? Or, do you have your GPS set on destination? Have you made plans for a journey with a special destination in mind, or are you simply taking the next road that strikes your fancy? Is this a feel-good journey, or are you willing to sacrifice for the objectives and values which you have determined to be fundamental to your constitution?
Have you updated your GPS lately. Last week the GPS for the 57 passenger bus almost took us down a street that could have been too narrow to turn the bus around. Fortunately, someone knew the roads and verbally corrected course. GPS systems for roads are only as good as the time of their programming. We must daily update our spiritual GPS to insure our hearts are connected with heaven.
King Manasseh grew up going to Sunday School. His dad, King Hezekiah, you could say was a preacher-man. He told people about God, read the Bible, tore down idols and built up places for God. In our language Manasseh went to church camps, attended youth events, knew all the songs about God, and saw the evidence of God blessing his dad. But when Manasseh became king his GPS got all mixed up. He chose to go to the wrong places and do the wrong things. He so angered God that a heathen king sent soldiers, conquered Jerusalem, put a ring in Manasseh's nose/ears and led him away like an animal to Babylon. In affliction Manasseh repented. God restored him to his throne. He did the best he could to undo his evil; however, apparently his own children refused to give up their worship of idols.
Sunday is past. Monday is here. What will you do with this week to signal your love for a merciful God? How will your life speak to the lives of others? How will you influence others? Will you choose values and actions that will point others to Christ? Will you arrive at your destination of life celebrating that others have joined you on your journey to spend eternity with a righteous God?
The choice is yours. As you live each day prepare for Sunday to gather with others honoring the Sabbath Day and keeping it holy.
Pastor Bare
Exodus 20:1-17