
Luke 15:7a
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one child (italics my own words) who repents..”
“Gather the instruments! He’s here.”
“Is the garment ready?”
“Yes, it is. We had it made according to your liking, used the exact measurements brought before us and the colours you decided on.”
“Perfect! Bring forth the garment and the oil.“
“Right away, Father.”
He ran off like a scalded haint. Before you knew it he was back with the oil and garment in his hands.
“Here you are Father.”
“I understand you’re excited but try not to scare him off. I mentioned to you that they (my children) are not the same. They might look alike but they all have different stories as we have seen.“
“Yes, father”
Luke replied with a smile that run across his face from ear to ear. So excited he couldn’t hold it in.
“Act natural Friends.. It’s about ti..m..”
Before he could even finish they all sprang out running faster than a hot knife through butter.
You could hear him laugh in the background because he mentioned it a number of times but they were too excited to listen. They celebrated like this every time a child came home. It wasn’t childish or rebellious, it was Pure and righteous. Pure love, genuine excitement and a joy only the father understood.
Maybe you don’t remember the first time you gave your life to Christ but I’m sure the above illustration gives a clear picture of what heaven seemed like. My imagination isn’t as amazing but let’s just say I tried.
Like a new born babe you craved for his righteousness and his word and his presence. It was as though your eyes were open for the first time. You called him, spoke to him every morning and he mattered the most. It was like looking at a clear window. No stains, no cracks just a clear window.
But along the way you/I got bored. The window was too clear it became boring. If it wasn’t Pastor Walk-in preaching about love or faith or unmerited favor. Grace. Then it was Ma’am Corner flake leading hymns. Same old hymns. It felt like you heard it all. Why go to church? Why gather with other saints? I’ll hear the same things.
What if I told you, you are wrong. What if I told you I’ve been bored before and I felt the same. Brace yourself you’re just getting started.
Trust me it will feel like that if you’re not willing to see things through God’s eyes. It will be the same if you’re not will to put on the adult cap and act responsible. It’s going to be hard I know. But he says “my grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. Even when I get bored? Yes, even when you get bored. You’ll feel bored along the way but it’s up to you to find joy and entertainment in everything you do for the glory of God. He is still excited about you.
Did Pastor Walk-in say that too? Yes? Perfect! Then I’ll say it again because it’s true.
He is still madly in love with you. It’s a relationship and he wants you to pursue him the same way he does(you). Just in case you ever get bored or are bored with your relationship with God like it happened to me, try this:
– Spend time with God and his creation Romans 1:20
Honestly, just being in the presence of God is amazing enough not to get you bored. It’s overwhelming. There is a way your body responds to his presence and just that in it self shows how mysterious yet know to man he is. Sometimes we become too familiar with God we think we know him and the moment these thoughts begin to play on our minds, we limit his power. Because each day we encounter him, he reveals a different side of himself.
Just looking at his creation should have you thinking. How does a seed germinate? How is it that I forgot to pray today but I still have my spleen? Grace. How is it that I breathe everyday of my life and I’ve lived for more that 12 years but there has never been an oxygen crisis. There are so many things to be amazed at, all of which a human mind cannot fathom. Our God is great.
– Look for miracles God performs everyday
It’s amazing how excited my younger sister gets the moment I manage to open a bottle she failed to get open. I can say I’m a little strong. Jokes.
Her reaction is always “Woo! How did you do that?” For her it’s a miracle. Anything I do outside my power is a miracle for her. And while I’m not a miracle worker, God is. If we could just look at things differently we too would be amazed. Maybe the reason we get bored sometimes is because we don’t see God’s miracles. But should we relay on miracles to know that God is great?
Everything you see is a miracle. Look at things that way. To carry a baby in one’s womb for nine months is a miracle. To be able to speak is a miracle in it’s own sense. To be able to wake up that’s an amazing miracle. They surround us even the most trivial things. We just need to open our eyes.
– Invest in meaningful relationships
Each and every human being is different. Each and every child/sheep has a different story. Your relationships will also contribute to how you see God. Whether or not you get bored, your relationships are a priority. If you visit a believer’s gathering you’ll realise that they are all are blessed with different gifts. You’ll notice how they each see God differently. You’ll notice how they all use their gifts to worship God, teach and help one another.
It helps strengthen them. It helps one know God as a healer because not only will they talk about him as a healer but you’ll see it in the way they walk, in the way they speak and how fit this one is.
Attend a camp meeting or so you’ll find people from all walks of life and I don’t know what’s more amazing than hearing someone talk about where God found them and how far he has brought them while seeing a twinkle in their eyes.
Ebenezer: Thus far the Lord has brought us.
Take some time off the internet or anything in relation to entertainment. It will not help you when you decide to read scriptures because you’ll be fully prepared. Visit some friends. A braai will do. You could talk about the new books in the store. Or you could talk about Paul’s epistles. I like Peter and Paul. Buy a friend a Bible. Join the choir and sing as the cherubim do “Holy Holy is the Lord God almighty.”
You’ll realise that God is far more amazing than we see him to be. He is glorified in every gift found in man.
Ephesians 4:7
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore he says:
“When he ascended on high, He led the captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
You’ll might just discover your gift in the process. You’ll realise that there is nothing boring about your relationship with Christ because there are so many things to be done. Get out there :
Someone has to lead the Bible study.
Someone has to pastor the youths.
Someone has to lead worship.
Someone has to teach the Sunday school kids.
Someone has to visit the orphanage.
Someone has to nurse the old aged. Go for it.
Someone has to clean the church(building).
Someone has to bake those cupcakes for that fundraising concert.
Someone has to evangelise.
Someone has to make those outfits for Children’s Sunday.
And that someone is you. God values everything you do for the glory of his name.
“Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might.” Ecclesiastes 9:10
You’re in a relationship with God and the world will try to stain the way you view God, you will get bored, Satan will try to remind you of who you were and Sin will come creeping in but It takes maturity, self-control, grace and all the other fruits of the spirit to stand firm and put on that garment of praise.
Boring: Having nothing to do