DOWN BY THE RIVER SIDE

“Write these words…” (Exodus 34:27b ESV)

As I sat down to write this Sunday morning, turning on my computer and waiting for with patience for it to open when it got good and ready, I was at a loss for words to write.  But after the computer had tested my patience, failing in its efforts to detain me from fulfilling my task of writing a meditation, inspired by the Spirit, the screensaver stared at me as if I was to find a hint on what to write.  I know I am giving human attributes to an object, but I invoked a rule, not the law of Christ that says to treat people as you would like to be treated, but one that pre-dated Christ’s teaching.  If the screensaver stared at me, I was going to stare right back at it.  My stare became more than a purposeful glare and as I looked at it with a different agenda, I found something to write about.  Look God is not in anything physically, but you can see God in everything.

Let me be clearer.  The picture was of a stretched-out river with trees growing tall, being in a fertile place, down by the riverside.  Spread out along the banks of the river were a number of men, their faces were not identifiable.  The space between each man, fishermen I believe, seemed as if they were placed purposely in their own space or, let’s say, territory.  I did not see any fish in the picture and there was no indication that any of the men had caught any fish.  They were like the disciples that had fished all night and had not caught a minnow, but Jesus told them to go fish some more, “Pull out to the deep and cast out your nets for a catch.”  As a side note, you are always better when you obey Christ.  Obedience brings about great rewards in one form or the other.  After taking the risk of obedience there will be blessings. But that’s another story.  Let’s get back to the screensaver.  The river was peaceful and there was not a cloud in the sky.  The sun reigned and its rays ruled the day.

The screensaver became God’s source of inspiration and I ended up questioning the ways of Christians, including you and me.  I asked, “Are we aware that there is a peace on this restless sea of life; a peace that comes from Christ?’  More questions surfaced.  “Do we realized that each of us have our own space; a place where we are to be fishers of men?”  “And, even if we have not caught a fish lately, are we being obedient and casting out our nets for a catch, leaving the rest to the Lord?”  The screensaver was not done being used by God inspiring or maybe we should say at this point due to all the questions, the screensaver was not done aiding me in my investigating.  Four more questions for you and yes, for me too.  “Is the light of glory, the light of the Son, shining all around us on this very day; drowning out every cloud that tries to get in our way?”  “Can others see that light?”  “Are you and I going to let the Son reign and rule this day; a day that the Lord has made?”  “Are we going to be useful to God in service, to the degree that we present in our living, a picture worth a thousand words?”

All this inspiration came from the Lord, as He employed the use of a screensaver, down by the riverside.  I have shared it with you.  But guess what?  It’s about time we head out to worship service, right?  My friend, go!  And when you get out, don’t go staring at your screensaver!  Start doing what the Lord wants you to do!  It’s that time!  Be blessed!

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV)

Still committed to the climb, 

Mark L. King