Today's Soul Food — April 11
 

April 11

"Now do it!" 2 Samuel 3:18; "Do not leave any of it till morning..." Exodus 12:10.

Putting off duties is a shortcoming that brings us up short of the perfection God wants of us. Emerson wrote in his Journals (1834), "We are always getting ready to live, but never living." We can amend that to, "We are always getting ready to work, but seldom getting to work." "Eventually" never becomes "actually" and the sweet by-and-by becomes the bitter never. Procrastination is not only a thief of time but finally a thief of self-respect and a robber of the good we can do for others, as well.

"At thirty, man suspects himself a fool;/Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan;/At fifty chides his infamous delay,/Pushes his prudent purpose to resolve;/In all magnanimity of thought/Resolves, and resolves; then dies the same." Edward Young. Procrastination is a killer of time and motivation. It borrows on tomorrow's time. Today is yesterday's tomorrow, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. When we are inspired to do what we need to do, then we can't waste a minute of irreplaceable time in getting on with what we need to do, while we have time and health to do it. We have many unwarranted reasons to put off what God wants of us, too. Felix told Paul, "Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you" Acts 24:25. There is no record of Felix ever finding the time to summon Paul!

John Ruskin is said to have taken for his great life motto the simple word, "Today." In his library he had before him the text, "Work, while it is yet called today." There is a time for everything and it is indeed today, while we have the Light. "The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure, for there is a proper time and procedure for every matter..." Ecclesiastes 8:5,6. We are to redeem God's irredeemable time: "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" Ephesians 4:15,16.

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

What Assyrian king attacked the Philistines,  leading Isaiah to walk around naked for three years?

Previous question and Answer: Who was the runaway slave that went back to his master? Answer: Onesimus I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels. Philemon  10-12 (KJV)

T H I N K A B O U T I T

No Mistake A father knelt down beside his little boy's bed. It was time for prayers, hugs and kisses, and tucking in. The little boy began the childhood prayer he had repeated so many times before: Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake Pray the Lord, my soul to take. This time the words got mixed up. Unwittingly, the child spoke words of the greatest wisdom. He prayed, "If I should wake before I die."  Embarrassed, he stopped. "Oh Daddy, I got all mixed up."  Wisely, his dad responded tenderly, "Not at all, Son, that's the first time the prayer was properly prayed. My deepest longing for you is that you make wake up before you die." The child drifted to sleep, but the father turned the prophetic words about in his mind. "If I should wake before I die. That's it!" he exclaimed. "That's the promise and hope of Easter. This is the time to come alive and live forever!  "Christmas is the Promise, and Easter is the Proof."

 

Today's  Devotion

True Power   "He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets"  Isaiah 42:2 Matthew 12:19

Jesus was a low-profile Person. He did not come to this earth to make a name for Himself and to be acclaimed by the fickle and feckless crowd. He entered towns and hearts quietly and effectively. What He brought spoke for itself; it didn't need rolling drums and town criers. Jesus didn't need to advertise Himself or His goods. Goodness is like that. It also bears the cross meekly for the sake of all others, not just those we choose to love. Jesus speaks with a still voice: ". . .The Lord was not in the wind. . .the earthquake. . .the fire. . .[but] after the fire came a gentle whisper" 1 Kings 19:11,12. A gracious and unassuming spiritual life is finally the most effective. The Law was given from the mountain amidst thunder; the Gospel seeps quietly through throbbing hurting hearts. The Law threatens while the Gospel quietly beckons. The Law preaches death while the Gospel quietly promises life. The Law lays grievous duties on us while the Gospel quietly tells us to lay our burdens on Jesus while we go on with our duties. The Law wounds while the Gospel ever so quietly heals body, mind and spirit. The Law frightens while the the tender Voice becomes our delight. Those who affect power intimidate and coerce. Jesus cannot accomplish anything from the disadvantages of others, for that is what power does: take advantage of weakness. Our good God takes these very weaknesses and gently transposes them into His strength: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" 2 Corinthians 12:9. The truly strong life is discreet, dignified, and decisive in Jesus. This person knows wherein his power lies, and therein is the strength for serene daily living. © Pat Nordman

Those who affect power intimidate and coerce. Jesus cannot accomplish anything from the disadvantages of others, for that is what power does: take advantage of weakness.

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