|
S
|
ummertime
was the most wonderful time of the year for me as a kid because summertime
meant three very important things:
school was out, I could go barefoot, and I could ride my bike anytime
and anywhere (well, almost anywhere) I wanted.
I would wake up in the morning and have the whole day ahead of me. The waking hours were filled with all kinds
of possibilities of things to do, places to go, and people to see. Sounds like I was some big-time explorer with
some big-time plans for making a grand discovery, doesn’t it? Well to me, it felt pretty much like that.
One
of my favorite things to do was to ride my bike. All the kids in our neighborhood had bikes
and we rode them all the time. Most of
the time, we would ride in the neighborhood, not too far from our homes. But we also broadened our horizons, widening
the boundaries of our jaunts, venturing across town to the park, or to get ice
cream at one of the small convenience stores that dotted our town.
But
I also enjoyed the rides I took by myself.
I enjoyed these the most because I usually ended up at the same
location, grandma and grandpa’s house.
They lived only a mile away but we always described it as “clear across
town,” and sometimes it seemed that their home was the furthermost outpost in
the city.
Whenever
I arrived, both my grandparents were always glad to see me and anything in the
cabinets, the refrigerator, or under grandpa’s chair was game. Grandpa’s chair was where the most precious
of all treasures, Snickers candy bars, was hidden. Those candy bars were always a special treat
because grandpa loved them so much and he always handed me one (or two) when I
went over to visit. But the cookies, the
cakes, the ice cream, and anything else were always sampled as well.
Usually,
my mom would call me at grandma’s to see what time I was leaving for home. She usually had something she wanted me to
pick up on my way home from one of the local grocery stores. She always said the same thing, “On your way
home….” Sometimes it was a loaf of
bread, a pack of cheese, some sugar, or something to drink. At other times there were several items but
always there was something for me to pick up on my way home.
Jesus
left the following instructions for his disciples and for all those who would
become believers in him because of their testimony and witness. In Matthew 28:19 we read these words, “Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,” This passage of scripture is usually referred to as
The Great Commission because Jesus gave his followers a big assignment. They were told to make disciples everywhere
they went and to share the truth of God’s word with all those around them.
I
like to think of this passage in light of my mother’s phone conversations with
me while I visited with my grandparents.
I believe Jesus wanted us to understand that on our way home, we are to
pick up as many people as we can and bring them with us. Now, what we have to understand is that we are
on our way home every waking moment of our lives. As long as we are taking in air, as long as
our hearts are beating, and as long as we remain here, we are on our way home. That means we must constantly be about the
task of picking up people and telling them about Jesus and his love for us.
|
A
|
s
I grew older, I exchanged my bike for a car. However, whenever I visited my
grandparents, mom still called and still told to me pick up things on my way
home. Since I had a car, however, I
could pick up more things and carry more responsibility. I believe it is the same with us as we mature
in Christ. We move from a spiritual bike
to a spiritual car, being able to pick up more, to carry more, and to deliver
more as we mature and grow in our walk with God. Even today, one thousand miles away from 511 South Elm Street
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your thoughts and comments about today's Tidbit with us.