Have you ever listened in on an old couple’s conversation? Sometimes, it might break down and sound something like this …
“I think we should sort our pills for the week.” “WHAT?”
“I think we should sort our pills for the week.” “WHAT?”
“I said, I THINK WE SHOULD SORT OUR PILLS FOR THE WEEK!”
“Well, don’t yell at me! What do you want?”
We all know couples like this and we are glad that they are able to do as well as they do. But let’s be honest, we also wonder how long their independence will last.
Sometimes a church can be like that with God. God speaks in His word and we don’t understand. So we pray and ask God, “WHAT?” But then we go about our day and forget what it was that God spoke to us about. By the time we go to church next Sunday and hear the preacher speak, we forgot completely what God was trying to tell us. But now the Lord is convicting us of something different during the sermon. So, we ask God again, “WHAT?” This time we make it a point to remember and might even raise our hand. But, by time we shake hands and greet our friends and do our Sunday afternoon routine, we forgot…again! So, next time we sit down to read our Bibles at home we remember there was something important. So, we pray about whatever it might have been and ask God, “WHAT?” If our whole church were like this, we would be glad that we are able to get by. But let’s be honest, we would also have to wonder how long our church which is really His church can survive.
Wouldn’t it be so much better if instead of saying to God, “WHAT?” we added a word and said, “What NEXT?” That is what we would say if we obeyed God right away when He spoke to us through His word and preaching. And after we were faithful to accomplish His desire, we would come back to God tomorrow or next Sunday and say to Him, “What NEXT?” If our whole church said “What NEXT?” to God we would no longer wonder how long our church which is His church will survive. Instead, we will be wondering how wonderfully His church will thrive for Him.
God is speaking to every one of us every time we encounter His word. Listen carefully. He is telling one of us to get saved and another to get baptized. He is telling one of us to spend more time with Him. He is telling another of us to pray for a friend and another to pray with a friend. He is telling yet another to start memorizing His word. He is telling a child to behave in church and an adult to be more patient. He is telling someone else to forgive and someone else to visit and someone else to help. He is telling another to join the church and be a member. He is telling another to start tithing and another to pray more and another to give more for missions. He is telling another to be a better witness at home and another to be a better witness at work. He is also telling us all about our sins and our need to cease and desisit. And, yes, even though God doesn’t call everyone to be a pastor or a missionary, He is calling some of us to do just that. Please do God and His church which is our church a favor. Next time God tells you something important, don’t say “WHAT?” Instead, do it and then say “what NEXT?”
“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25