2020 Daily Devotion - Day 126
When I was in junior high school (which they now call middle school), I was part of a track and field program. One of the races I was pretty good at was the 600-yard race. Most of the students would run this race like it was a long-distance race, so they would pace themselves. I chose another approach, and ran it like it was a sprint. That meant I ran it full out. It was not unusual for me to lap some of the other runners. In those days, I actually had the best time: 131.9. They even put my name on a plaque which hung in the gym.
I am sure someone has run a better time since then. However, one of the problems for me, when I would run this race, is at the end, I would hang on the fence and throw up. This happened every single time. I knew at the beginning of the race, I would be throwing up at the end. It was many years later in high school when the track coach taught me something which would have helped a lot. He told me after I ran if I kept on walking, I wouldn’t throw up. He was right. Back in junior high, no one told me to keep walking. No one had instructed me.
This is often the case in life. We place ourselves in a position where we are not being instructed. It can be any number of reasons. It can be that I never, or rarely, go to church and really allow the scriptures to instruct me. Or, if I am in marital counseling with my spouse, I have no interest in being instructed. It could be that I think I already know everything I need to know…on and on the list goes. But the key to successful living is to have an open heart and mind for instruction. This is what God’s Word is telling us.
Proverbs 10:17 ESV
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, would You give us a hunger and desire for being instructed. Too often, we think we have it all figured out, and the result is nothing but problems. You have promised us if we are open to instruction, it will lead to a fuller life. Please do this in us, this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
I am sure someone has run a better time since then. However, one of the problems for me, when I would run this race, is at the end, I would hang on the fence and throw up. This happened every single time. I knew at the beginning of the race, I would be throwing up at the end. It was many years later in high school when the track coach taught me something which would have helped a lot. He told me after I ran if I kept on walking, I wouldn’t throw up. He was right. Back in junior high, no one told me to keep walking. No one had instructed me.
This is often the case in life. We place ourselves in a position where we are not being instructed. It can be any number of reasons. It can be that I never, or rarely, go to church and really allow the scriptures to instruct me. Or, if I am in marital counseling with my spouse, I have no interest in being instructed. It could be that I think I already know everything I need to know…on and on the list goes. But the key to successful living is to have an open heart and mind for instruction. This is what God’s Word is telling us.
Proverbs 10:17 ESV
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, would You give us a hunger and desire for being instructed. Too often, we think we have it all figured out, and the result is nothing but problems. You have promised us if we are open to instruction, it will lead to a fuller life. Please do this in us, this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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