Well, I have commented about being stuck in a dry rut before, but this last week, the Lord gave me the opportunity to literally make some new ruts. I could easily talk about being stuck in a rut, but let’s talk about the rain! And I have to tell you, the rain last week was truly Heaven sent. I had just over three inches of rain all totaled, and the parched grass just took right off and started growing. It made me go look and see if the lawnmower would run. It was as if the cows were gettin’ supplemented from Heaven! I hope everyone will continue to pray for rain.
It’s amazing how many times over the years I’ve heard something like, “I’m just not payin’ the preacher enough.” Of course it is intended as a joke, but it makes you start thinking, “Am I doing the Lord’s will?” Whether it be supporting the gospel monetarily or just sitting down with a friend and tellin’ them about Jesus, am I doing what He wants?
If the rain didn’t wash the dust off of your Bible then wipe it off and let’s look over at Matthew 5:44-46: 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (kjv)
Just in case you didn’t catch ‘hold of it, look again at the last part of verse 45. Open ‘er up to the gospel of Matthew and see it there. It wouldn’t hurt for us to look at the previous verses, either. Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, if someone hates you then do something good for them, and pray for all of ‘em. I can tell you this much, if you pray for your enemies, you won’t have enemies in your heart! I can tell you ‘cause I know! Speaking of the dust on the Bible, Greg McDougal, a friend of mine from Nashville, does a song about Dust on the Bible. Several folks have sang it. Here is the chorus to that song: There is dust on the Bible with its pages unturned, it so simple yet I soon forget what I’ve lived what I’ve learned That the word when read is water and bread It’s a fount for the lambs of the fold
When there’s dust on the Bible there’s a storm raging in my soul. Why do we have to go through one of life’s storms before we take the Bible off the shelf and literally have to blow the dust off of it before we open it? Good question, but let’s get back to God sending forth the rain… He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good; He sends rain on the just and the unjust. But please understand this: He hears our prayers and He answers them.
But He likely won’t answer them according to your plan. He answers them according to His plan. He answers prayers according to His good and perfect plan. So go ahead and pray HIS WILL, go ahead and give HIS MONEY, go ahead and be a part of HIS CHURCH that is part OF HIS PLAN for your life of service to THE ONE WHO DIED AT
THE CROSS to pay for your sin and mine. And while you’re at it go ahead and love others. Love God and love others. Believe me, He will pour “Showers of Blessing” down upon your soul! Ride for the Son! GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And hey, y’all let us all be of one accord and pray for some RAIN on this parched land! Amen.