(07.19.21–Getting There On My Own! –Luke 10: 25-29)
My friend, may I ask you a question? Is it true that people who succeed in life tend to have a great sense of humor that always errors on the positive side. Seriously, how does it get them through the tough times?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
A number of years ago I was working on installing a new exhaust system on my car. Since this was a rear engine car, it was a fairly easy job because, well, the engine was in the rear. Simply, there was a short length of exhaust pipe leading to a muffler with a very short tail pipe. First, the old system had to be removed. Installing the new is always much simpler than removing the old. With the old you're fighting rust and dirt; but not with the new, shiny stuff. The only precaution with the new stuff is this: don’t over tighten the nuts and bolts! There's a torque factor on every nut and bolt combination. Exceed the torque and you stand the risk of either breaking the nut or snapping the bolt. That’s why they make torque wrenches! Unfortunately, I have always been one of those guys addicted to turning that nut one more time, just to make sure that it is really tight. I did, and I ended up breaking the manifold pipe the exhaust pipe was installed to.
Replacing the manifold pipe turned out to be much more expensive than the exhaust pipe and muffler system.
Exceeding the design specifications for anything will often result in taking what is designed to work well and turning it into something that doesn't work at all. Even though our intentions are the best and we never meant to do harm or create a situation where our best efforts only lead us to failure, being over-zealous in matters that don't require that level of zeal will often lead to disastrous results. It's that way with our relationship with God as well. God has established standards by which our relationship with Him is accomplished. The formula is simple. "Love me with all your heart. Serve your neighbor." These are the "torque" instructions that we come with at birth. This is God's expectation for the maintenance of His relationship with us. He doesn't tell us to love Him and "turn the nut" just one more time to make sure that His love is secure. He doesn't mean for us to explore new and different ways of applying that love. The tools are pretty simple and the instructions quite plain. Simply, "love me with all your heart." Why is it that in our zeal to "perfect" that relationship, one already perfected by Jesus, we often try to do more and try harder?
Perfecting that which is already perfect doesn't seem like a wise idea, does it? Nonetheless, that's what we're doing when we try to be good for God. God's specification for good works is pretty simple. "Forget about doing good for me; put all of your efforts into doing good for others." This is the perfect relationship between the Creator and created that was established since before time. Turning the "nut" on this one, just one more turn, can only lead to wasted effort and a broken relationship. Our relationship with God is already "tight" in Christ; no need to perfect the already perfected.
We pray. Heavenly Father, perfecting that which is already perfect isn’t a wise idea, does it since You sent Christ to do that in the first place. Forgive me when I strive to do good for You without understanding that Your goal for me is to do good for others.Your specification for good works is pretty simple. "Forget about doing good for me; put all of your efforts into doing good for others." This is the perfect relationship between You and me. Help me to remember not to turn the "nut" on this one, just one more turn. That can only lead to wasted effort and a broken relationship. Our relationship with You is already "tight" in Christ; no need to perfect the already perfected. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”
<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.