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God’s Proper Place
In today’s time, we often find ourselves very busy. Between school, work, and family there’s hardly ever time for ourselves. Even one of those three things is enough to occupy the majority of someone’s time, must less juggling countless other possible commitments. Far too often we can compromise bible study or church services for one of these other commitments because attending services can seem to be such a regular thing. We are there all the time, is it really a big deal if I miss one day because I’m exhausted from the week’s grind? It is important to realize that God is a big deal and that we are privileged to come before Him. We shouldn’t have the mindset we HAVE to do our bible study or go to church services. We GET to.
On November 14, 1965, American soldiers were stranded under heavy Vietnamese fire. Running out of food and ammunition, hope looked lost for every American on the base. It had just been radioed in that the landing pad was under too much fire and that no more evacuation helicopters were coming. Captain Ed Freeman selflessly volunteered to fly his unarmed, very lightly armored helicopter into the battle to bring what supplies he could and take what survivors his helicopter could carry back. Captain Freeman made 14 trips back and forth saving many soldiers both by the supplies he brought and the soldiers he took back. If Ed Freeman were to come up to one of those men that he saved all these years later and say, “Can I have a moment of your time?” How many of them do you think would say, “Sorry I would, but I’m just not feeling very well” or “I’m just too busy right now, I’ll try to set aside some time for you next week.” Surely none of them would say this to the man who risked his life 14 times to save them. In the same sense shouldn’t we, as Christians, be willing and eager to give our time to God? He has done far more than saved us in a physical sense, He has provided us with spiritual salvation in the only place it can be found.
Once put into perspective, it can be shameful to see areas in our life that are not fully devoted to God, and on the contrary to that, it can be so encouraging to see other members that are obviously in pain or overwhelmed always being at church services or still finding ways to devote themselves to God.
While it is always easier said than done to set aside time for God, the mindset of men like David can be seen in Psalms 100. “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all the generations.” This psalm exemplifies the type of heart we should have when we go before the Lord. David, being a man after God’s own heart, provides a perfect example of both the excitement and the reverence that we should bring before God. It balances the gladness that we should come before Him with and the humility that knowing that the Lord is the creator brings.
In conclusion, despite our schedules being packed and our seemingly busy lives, it is important to prioritize. Put God in His proper place - in the place that He rightfully deserves. How can we expect the One who gave everything for us to expect anything less in return?
Jarod Turquette
