Thought for the day
A small bottle containing urine sat on the desk of Sir William Osler. He was then the eminent professor of medicine at Oxford University. Sitting before him was a classroom full of young wide-eyed medical students listening to his lecture on the importance of observing details. To emphasize his point, he reached down and picked up the bottle. Holding it high, he announced:
"This bottle contains a urine sample for analysis. It's often possible by testing it to determine the disease from which the patient suffers."Suiting action to words, he dipped a finger into the urine and then into his mouth as he continued: "Now I am going to pass this bottle around. Each of you please do exactly as I did. Perhaps we can learn the importance of this technique and diagnose the case."
The bottle made its way from row to row as each student gingerly poked his finger in and bravely sampled the contents with a frown. Dr. Osler then retrieved the bottle and startled his students with these words:
"Gentlemen, now you will understand what I mean when I speak about details. Had you been observant, you would have seen that I put my index finger into the bottle but my middle finger into my mouth."
Jesus put the same emphasis on the importance of paying attention to details. Consider how many times Jesus spoke the words:"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 13:9) In other words, "Pay attention! Listen closely to what I'm about to say."
Far too often, we only half-listen (my wife will tell you that I'm especially prone to this whenever she's talking to me). We hear some of what is said, but we tend to miss many of the details (in my defense, I can usually come back from the store with three of the four items she told me to pick up!).
As serious as that tendency may be in our everyday lives, it can be deadly to us spiritually. Missing out on what Jesus has to say may mean the difference between eternal life and eternal death.
So, pay attention! Listen carefully!
Verses
Romans 10:17
This shews that believing depends on tidings heard, and that hearing in turn implies God's word uttered.
Matthew 8:17
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
2 Corinthians 9:11
God will make you rich in all things: rich enough for you to be a great blessing to the poor. Your generous gift through me will make many people thank God for you.
PrayerFather, I consider the extremely difficult choice Job made not to sin by charging You with wrongdoing. I consider Joseph who withstood tremendous temptation by resisting the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. And I consider Daniel who refused to stop the custom of praying to his Father in heaven though he knew it would land him in the lions’ den. These three, among scores of other godly brothers and sisters throughout the centuries, chose to do the right thing knowing that doing so would cause them great suffering, terrible injustice, or martyrdom. The ultimate example is Jesus, Your Son, who died in our stead though He was wholly innocent of sin. Help me not to look for that which is easy, quick, or that which will avoid consequence. I choose to deal with the consequence of obedience to You; whether or not it works out for my good in the short term. May my greatest concern be for that which works for my good internally and eternally. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment