BBD 12.31.07 Learning to Drive - A Refresher Course
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 1672 new subscribers since January 1, 2007!!
12.31.07
Learning To Drive - A Refresher Course
(Updated from January 2003)
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. - John 3:3.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12.
On New Year's Day 2003 in Canada (Edmonton, Alberta), a couple of guys (One
17-years-old and the other 18.) had a bright idea. They thought they would
carjack a pizza deliverer along with the pizza and money. They ran into one
little problem. When one of the guys began to drive away, he discovered that
the car had a manual transmission with a stick shift. The clutch and the
stickshift were too much and finally in frustration they simply made off
with the pizza and the money. However, the police spotted the robbers going
into the very same home where the pizza had been ordered. They were arrested
and the pizza and the money were recovered. A police spokesperson said, "It
was a toss-up between pizzas and the car, and they knew how to operate
pizzas."
One of the most frustrating things for a new Christian is that the Christian
life is more complicated than it first appears. You have received Christ as
your Savior, you have been born again and the Holy Spirit lives within you
but living the Christian life still can appear overwhelming. It is much like
trying to drive a car with a stick shift and manual transmission for the
first time. To successfully drive the car there are some things you need to
do in the proper order. First, depress the clutch. Second, while the clutch
is depressed put the stick shift into first gear. Third, slowly release the
clutch while giving the car more gas by depressing the accelerator. Repeat
the process for other gears.
How do you start moving forward in the Christian life? The very first thing
that the first Christians did after Christ ascended to Heaven was to pray
(Acts 1:13-14). They waited in the upper room and prayed. Prayer is much
like the clutch. Without prayer, nothing else is going to work. Before
shifting gears, depress the clutch. Before doing anything in the Christian
life pray!
So you have prayed - what's next? Read the Word of God. "All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)." As
you read God's Word listen for His Voice (This is also praying.) ask Him to
speak to you. After you finish reading, pray again. If God gave you
instruction while you were reading His Word pray again before proceeding and
pray while you are doing what He has told you to do. Pray after finishing.
Prayer is a constant activity for the Christian. Reading, studying,
memorizing, and meditating on God's Word is a daily activity.
An at least weekly activity for the child of God is assembling with other
believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Before you do so pray. Pray for other
believers, pray for the pastor and ask God to speak to your heart. Afterward
pray again.
Just as with driving a vehicle with a manual transmission requires certain
mechanics, steps, or procedures every time so does the Christian life. The
mechanics of the Christian life do not change. So if you have been trying to
shove the gearshift into third without the clutch of prayer why not stop and
pray for a moment? I think you will find everything will go so much more
smoothly with everything bathed in prayer.
The year 2008 stretches before you and as you drive through this year please
remember the mechanics, the procedures that we as Christians need to
continually implement to move forward in this life. I hope and pray you have
a wonderful New Year!!
Copyright © 2007. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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