Who remembers the old fashioned “busy signal” way back in the day when we used land line telephones? It was the most annoying sound ever. Here I am trying to connect and share and all I hear is an overly loud repetitive beeping. It’s almost like the beep was taunting me saying “you’re just not that important, they have other people and tasks to tend to!” Even worse was the dreadful, “this number has been disconnected please hang up and try again later.” NO! In annoyance I would wonder if they moved or changed phone numbers without telling me. I’d feel momentarily abandoned and left behind. Busy and disconnected can become lifestyles that have a way of creeping into our spiritual walk with God. Just yesterday in church my friend Michele shared, “I haven’t read in a long time. I don’t know why I haven’t been in the Word.” Her confession hits home for all of us at some point. We give God the busy signal and then we get disconnected.
Sometimes we are busy with very noble endeavors. We are serving at the women’s ministry at church. We are getting the laundry and dishes done trying to maintain an organized living space which is relaxing and welcoming. We are working hard to pay the bills. We’re pursuing education and career goals that God has placed on our hearts as His plan for our lives. All of this sounds like great work for the Kingdom of God but what about the King? A serious problem arises when we forget our First Love, Yahweh. (Revelation 2: 1-7) God has given us life. (John 10:10; John 3:16) What does He want in return? He expects to be First. (Exodus 20:3) The Bible is God’s love letter to humanity. There is never a busy signal when a Spirit filled Believer picks up His Word. In fact, the Lord patiently waits for us. When we’re off doing things, He is ever present. He is our daily bread. He is our requirement for living, our sustenance. (John 6:35)
I think that part of our problem is that we have a preconceived idea (a lie) about “properly” reading God’s Word. This lofty expectation then gets in the way of actually reading. We may even tell ourselves, “if I can’ t put at least 15 minutes of my undivided attention in it at the same time each day then that’s disrespectful.” Certainly this kind of thinking becomes a barrier to ever opening the Word of God because after all we can’t “do it right”. If our success in life is dependent on abiding in Christ and we’re too busy to abide then what happens to our life? I think we get weary. We get crispy and sometimes bitter. We lose hope and we wander. We get disconnected from the True Vine, our life blood. (John 15: 4-8, Mark 14:24) So together let’s re-write this lie. Instead of telling yourself you have to read with perfection try this, “God I love you and I’m going to read some of your letter to me today. Please plant deep roots of what I read in my heart and mind so that I can think on in it in my business. Thank you Jesus.”
Relevant Scripture:
- Revelation 2:1-7
- John 10:10
- John 3:16
- Exodus 20:3
- John 6:35
- John 15:4-8
- Mark 14:24
