“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; my God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2 The Amplified Bible)
In sports, athletes have their “go-to” moves. Basketball, hockey players, have their “go to moves,” also known as signature moves. When there wasn’t a lot to eat in the refrigerator, there was always our “go-to” peanut butter and jelly sandwich or the triple-decker salad dressing sandwich or in my house, Mom’s created non-bread “peanut butter sucker.” Stuck in trying to figure out what to wear, we have our “go-to” outfits. Both young men and young women had or have their “go-to” pick-up or flirtatious lines. Come on now! You know it was not just a male thing!
Even when children need parental advice or help, they know whether Mom or Dad is the one to select as the “go to” parent, as dictated by their situation. Think about it! At various times, numerous times in life, we have had deferred to our dependable “go-to” sources.
This morning I sat down to write, as I have done daily without exception for almost five years now, blessed by God to do so. All praises to Him! When writing, I usually refer to something that has inspired me recently, an interaction that occurred not long ago, or incidents that were incredibly exceptional, impactful experiences, and insightful observations from the past. Well this morning, I sat down to write by faith, knowing what to write. Still I sat, prompted by a commitment to be faithful and committed to the climb. You might call it writer’s block, but I summarized it this way as I sat in front of a blank screen, “I got nothing.” While pondering, I moved my Bible over, not intending to look for anything, just making room for my coffee cup. Yes, it is still true, “No coffee, no talkie.” Pray for me! Back to what happened this morning. As I moved my Bible over, it flipped opened to Acts 3. My eyes were drawn to the passage about Peter healing a lame man, saying “silver and good have I none.” Initially. I was going to write about the fact that your economic condition should not eclipse your need to be about the work that God called you to do. However, as my attention zeroed in on the verse, I was blessed with something else to share with you today. For some, it will be a reminder. For others it will be a rebuke. Really, it all depends on the reader.
Here is what I want to share with you: The most reliable source we have is God. Hallelujah! He is our reliable “go-to” source in every situation that we face. He is our “go-to” source when we need to tell someone all about our struggles and troubles and appeal to One for help. He is our “go-to” source when we need direction or when we need Divine intervention. Divine intervention? That’s another way of saying, “when we need a miracle.” God is our reliable “go-to”-source when we need someone to cast all our cares on. You know He cares for you, don’t you?
Several years ago, early in my ministry, I was asked without notice to preach at an ordination service. The most junior preacher in the pastor’s office and of all people, they asked me, right before we were about to pray and go out into the sanctuary. I was honored, but I was also honest. I said, “But I did not bring a sermon.” The Head of the Deacon Board pointed to my Bible and said, “There is a book full of them.” To satisfy your question, “What Happened?” – you will be glad to know that I ended up preaching from the Book of Joshua on “Which Way Do We Go From Here?” The answer was that we, as God’s people, must always go up higher. That’s an answer that fit the new preacher, the seasoned pulpiteers, and the pew. My point is this! God’s is our most reliable source. And when we want to see what He has to say, we find that His word, the inspired word of God, profitable words from our “go-to” source, will show us something. He will not let you down. He did not some 30 years ago in the true story about being told to preach at the ordination service, and He did not let me down this morning. He gave me something write. Something to share with you when my Bible opened up to Acts 3. Now, the rest is up to you today. Will you go refer to God as your most reliable “go-to” source today? What about after today? I pray that we all do! Have a great Tuesday! Be blessed!
“Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you. Attention, Earth, I’ve got a mouth full of words. My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain, my words arrive like morning dew, like a sprinkling rain on new grass, like spring showers on the garden. For it’s God’s Name I’m preaching—respond to the greatness of our God! The Rock: His works are perfect, and the way he works is fair and just; a God you can depend upon, no exceptions, a straight-arrow God. His messed-up, mixed-up children, his non-children, throw mud at him but none of it sticks.” (Deuteronomy 32: 1-5 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King