Unprepared

It was early. My first born off to school and my bitty girl still sleeping, I couldn’t wait to sit down and have my time with The Father. I’ve been reading two books, each with Bible studies at the end of the chapters. I climbed on the bed and grabbed one, then the other.

I dug into my nightstand to find my journal and my pen. There I sat on my bed with everything spread out around me. I grabbed the first book to begin the daily reading. Then I noticed it. Something was missing. I looked at my large spread of stuff and wondered what it could be.

Book one – check.
Book two – check.
Journal – check.
Pen – check.
Bible -…
Bible -…
No Bible.

I forgot to grab my Bible. I was embarrassed. In my great efforts to have time with Jesus, I had actually left Him out. It was like preparing the food and decorations to throw a party for a friend, and then forgetting to invite that very same friend.

Obviously, I quickly fixed the problem by grabbing my Bible. But God used that situation to speak to me. How often do we get so involved in the “stuff” that we leave Jesus out?

Sometimes the “stuff” is even ministry involved. We are so focused on completing a list of tasks that the completion becomes more important than the meaning behind them. We talk like a Christian. We look like a Christian. We even act like a Christian. But if Christ isn’t there, none of it matters. Ouch!

Season all your grain offerings with salt.
Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings;
add salt to all your offerings.
Leviticus 2:13 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23 NIV

Lord, help me to focus on you. Please don’t let me become so involved that I leave you out. Help me to remember that I should put you in the middle of everything I do. Be real in my life. Let others see you through me. Amen.