“We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead. Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life.” (Acts 2):71-12 MSG)
This morning, when the preacher says, “I won’t be long,” be thankful that he will not preach as long as Paul in the account you just read in the passage above. And while you may want the message to be between 20-25 minutes and your attention span depends upon how you are enticed by the preacher’s words during the first seven to eight seconds, keep paying attention to the sent word. Even if he goes beyond 20 minutes, keep paying attention. You can do it! How do I know that to be true? Well, consider how much time you spend watching a movie. Consider how much time you spend searching for a particular item to order online. Consider how much time you watch your favorite recorded TV show (i.e., a daytime soap opera or your favorite TV judge show) each day. How long do sporting events keep your attention? I know there is the attention span and there is an interest span that comes into play when you are listening to someone speak our watching, let’s say, a show. But shouldn’t you have an interest in the word of God and shouldn’t that affect your attention span? Head to church this morning and pay attention! You will come out better than when you went in! Enjoy! Be blessed!
“Jesus replied, “That’s true, but the people who are really blessed are the ones who hear and obey God’s message!” (Luke 11:28 Contemporary English Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King