Good morning, brothers and sisters.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 3:5, “So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.”
I hope you haven’t been on the receiving end of this comment from your parents, “The only time I hear from you is when you want something.” Chances are pretty good that it’s an exaggeration when said, but there’s also a high probability of there being some truth to it as well. Not being a parent the first thirty or so years of my life, it took me much longer than it should have to realize how I must have made my mom feel when I went so many days between phone calls. Fortunately, with my dad still alive, I am learning from past mistakes and being a better son as I get into my sixth decade. Or remember back in school, when the nerdy outsider who was regularly ignored suddenly became the interest of someone, but only because they had the ability to help that other person with a project or assignment? It’s an emotional situation that can evoke a reaction even for one who was looking in from the outside. I still regret the ending of a high school and college friendship where my buddy eventually grew tired of my intervals of apparent indifference and just moved on. So then we come to consider our relationship with God. The easy part is to immediately think of those people we know who primarily give God time and attention only in moments of crisis or tragedy, and we are comfortable in knowing our union with Him is much deeper and significant. But even if you give God much “attention,” how woven into your time is an unspoken expectation that you will be receiving things from Him?
Ironically, God deals with us in this very way. He gives us His attention expecting to receive something from us. And not just something, but everything. He is the ultimate at reaching out to us only when He wants something, but what He wants is for us to give Him ourselves so we can receive all that He is. God is all about Himself, but only because He is the holy God of eternity whose glory is our greatest good. And before time began, He purposed that He would seek us out and call us to Himself, wanting to receive us into His fold. So when you hear from Him today, know that He is expecting something from you, and give it to Him with all your might.
As we seek Him today, give others attention because it’s a good thing. And give God your everything because it’s the best thing.
Have a magnificent weekend.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
