HOLY DISCONTENT – DEVOTIONAL
Howdy Friends! It had been a long day. And a cold one. Grandpop and the boy had struggled all day with fence repair. “Darned ol’ tree could’ve just as easily fallen a few feet to the south and missed the fence all together.” He declared as they nailed the last of the broken boards back together.
“We took care of it though, didn’t we, Grandpop!” The boy beamed.
“We sure did.” Grandpop gathered the last of the tools, tossed them into the truck bed, and motioned for the boy to crawl in the cab. The boy needed all his strength to pull the frozen door open.
The old truck made it obvious it was reluctant to start. Grandpop gave it a rest, then tried the starter again. “This ol’ gal has seen better days.” He let go a laugh. “Back about 30 years ago I reckon.” Finally with a cough, a cloud of black smoke, and a shudder the engine roared to life. “We’ll just sit here a bit and let ol’ Betsy warm up her insides a bit.”
The boy snatched a tattered blanket from the floor and snuggled down into a cocoon that would make a caterpillar proud.
“That’s how ya do it,” Grandpop chuckled. “It might take a while ‘til any heat sneaks out of those cold vents.” He stomped his feet in an effort to get blood to his frozen toes.
“Well we fixed that fence alright didn’t we, Grandpop?” The boy’s breath floated up in a tiny frozen fog as he spoke. “Now all we have to do is get home to warm up.”
“Ain’t ya happy to be inside ol’ Betsy, and outa that danged wind?” Grandpop teased.
The boy peaked out from his blanket cocoon. “It’s a start, but I think I need a little bit more heat.”
“That’s kinda how God works things.” Grandpop winked. “He’ll toss ya challenge to get your attention, then lead ya bit by bit over the rough patch.” He rubbed his hands together at the heater vent. “The trick is for us to pay enough attention ta get His messages.”
Grandpop pulled the blanket over the boy’s head. “We all get set in our ways.” He revved the truck’s engine. “Ol’ Betsey’s ready to go now.” He started out, back the way they’d come. Too fast he drove over frozen rough pasture ground sending the truck bouncing and rocking.
“I guess we’re bouncing over our rough patch!” The boy’s voice came with a laugh from under the blanket.
“We’re gonna hit the other road. Not getting’ too set in the same path is the trick.’ Then he added, Sure bein’ familiar with things is comfortable. But the deal is to get uncomfortable every now and then. Go outside familiar. The only way ta grow is to go after it.” He thought about telling the boy about how folks can get settled into their routine with God. Not go outside their familiar. And how that’ll weigh them down, until that time when they become discontent. Holy discontent. Thankful for what they have, and longing to know Christ more. And how that’ll drive them to dig in. But, he decided he’d save that talk for hot chocolate and cookies by the fireplace later tonight.
~ Gitty Up, Dutch.
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Bible Verse – Ephesians 3:2- Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Bible Verse – Philippians3:10 – That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Bible Verse – Ephesians 4:13 – Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Bible Verse – Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Bible Verse – Revelation 22:17 – The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Bible Verse – Revelation 2:17 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
