Why Are We This Way?
There was once a young couple, very much in love, who said their vows on what to them was a perfect day, then began their new life together. For the first few years they would talk about everything. Long walks in the evening were chances to catch up on the day's events, to share stories and to talk about things that really mattered. In fact, it was on one of those long walks that she shared the big news: the two of them were about to become three.
When the baby arrived, things changed. There were new priorities. She devoted every waking moment to child care and fell exhausted into bed at night. He, on the other hand, got a promotion at his job, which was much needed in order to meet the increasing expenses that come with a new baby. Their walks were neglected as both she and he found themselves tired beyond what they had ever imagined. Maybe on Saturdays and Sundays they could take their walks, but there were times with the baby was sick, or fussy, or it was raining...the slightest excuse could derail their time together.
It wasn't long before his job caused them to move to a new location, and baby number two was on the way. There simply wasn't time, what with all the packing and unpacking, getting used to a new setting, the increased responsibilities at work and at home. When he arrived at home, she would ask if they could talk and he would tell her they would talk on the weekend. He was tired and couldn't give her the time she needed right now. So she waited, but when every weekend came and went, mostly with him working, she began to ask less and less for conversation.
Finally, the kids grew up, the nest emptied, and they went out to dinner one evening. He looked across the table after they had ordered and realized he knew nothing about the woman who sat across from him. And the sadness in her eyes, and the weariness, told him she didn't know him, either. "Why are we this way?" he asked. She looked down and said, "Because we haven't allowed time for us to talk to one another."
Do I need to make the parallel? When we first come to know Christ, there is excitement and we read his word and make time to talk to him each and every day. Then the busy-ness of life gets in the way and we tell him we'll meet him on the weekend, maybe at church if we have time and if nothing else comes up. And before we know it, we're spiritually surviving on a diet of "Bible bites" that we read on Facebook or Twitter. We forgotten to allow God to speak to us through his Word, and that's why we need to ask, every day, John Wesley's eighth question:
When the baby arrived, things changed. There were new priorities. She devoted every waking moment to child care and fell exhausted into bed at night. He, on the other hand, got a promotion at his job, which was much needed in order to meet the increasing expenses that come with a new baby. Their walks were neglected as both she and he found themselves tired beyond what they had ever imagined. Maybe on Saturdays and Sundays they could take their walks, but there were times with the baby was sick, or fussy, or it was raining...the slightest excuse could derail their time together.
It wasn't long before his job caused them to move to a new location, and baby number two was on the way. There simply wasn't time, what with all the packing and unpacking, getting used to a new setting, the increased responsibilities at work and at home. When he arrived at home, she would ask if they could talk and he would tell her they would talk on the weekend. He was tired and couldn't give her the time she needed right now. So she waited, but when every weekend came and went, mostly with him working, she began to ask less and less for conversation.
Finally, the kids grew up, the nest emptied, and they went out to dinner one evening. He looked across the table after they had ordered and realized he knew nothing about the woman who sat across from him. And the sadness in her eyes, and the weariness, told him she didn't know him, either. "Why are we this way?" he asked. She looked down and said, "Because we haven't allowed time for us to talk to one another."
Do I need to make the parallel? When we first come to know Christ, there is excitement and we read his word and make time to talk to him each and every day. Then the busy-ness of life gets in the way and we tell him we'll meet him on the weekend, maybe at church if we have time and if nothing else comes up. And before we know it, we're spiritually surviving on a diet of "Bible bites" that we read on Facebook or Twitter. We forgotten to allow God to speak to us through his Word, and that's why we need to ask, every day, John Wesley's eighth question:
Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
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