Reliability (Jul 18)

I own an unreliable car. Being a General Motors car, it has the ill-conceived PassLock II security system installed. Basically, GM designed this system so that anytime at random, usually when most inconvenient, the system will engage and the next time you try to start the car, the system disables the fuel pump, preventing a successful start. At this point, the system takes ten minutes to reset. PassLock then lies dormant until its next random strike. GM seems to fail to see why this is a problem, but to most people, this clearly classifies the vehicle as unreliable. You never know when it is going to work and when it isn't. Sometimes I'm almost late to work. Sometimes I sit at the gas pump after completing my sale while people wait in line behind me. You just never know. I think about this every time I stop for gas. Anyway, I was thinking about this on Saturday. I was headed out to tire shop to get new tires. I was leaving a little late and was going to arrive pretty close to closing time, hoping that they wouldn't be busy and could get me in. It was then that I realized the distinct possibility after getting the order in for tires that the technician might not be able to start the car and then they might squabble about it getting too late to wait for the reset. Fortunately, the car has behaved (and has for the past week or so) and I was in and out of the shop with no problem. But, it got me to thinking about reliability.

Perhaps it's our cultures collective sense of entitlement or perhaps it is a natural expectation, but I think that we as people usually expect reliability in most situations. Reliability is usually a consideration while comparing different products when making a purchase. Many things we use, such as tools, appliances, utilities, etc., we expect to just work. I think this holds true as well for people and even God. We expect people to be true to their word and do as they say, when they say. We certainly expect the same of God.

Now, I just got done describing something that I expect to be reliable that isn't (my car). Most of the things in that list (tools, utilities, etc.) also have a tendency to fail (again, usually at the most inopportune times). Well, guess what: so do people, oftentimes. But, God doesn't. God is reliable. He is always faithful. And as Christians, living with God's spirit, so should we be.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 – Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.

2 Timothy 2:13 – If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Psalm 31:23-24

23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Exodus 19:5-6

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Nehemiah 13:13

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

Romans 13:8

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

A Break (Jul 11)

I don't know if you experienced the same weather this past week as I did, but I would like to use it as an example for this lesson. I was up on the lake this past week and for a good portion of the week, it was very sunny and hot. In fact, for several days in a row the temperatures stayed in the mid-to-upper nineties and the lows were in the eighties overnight. The air was also very humid during this time. It was almost too hot to do anything. Now, don't get me wrong – the weather was beautiful, but it seemed like the moment you stepped out the door, any movement rendered you soaked in sweat. I still took lots of walks on the beach and went swimming, but activities were short and spread out so as to not overdo it with the heat. I also had to keep well-hydrated. As we watched the weather report, they kept saying that the heat wave would last for a certain number of days and then it would drop into the eighties and there would even be a bit of rain. But, each day, we found that the heat wave would continue and they'd put off the cooler days in the forecast. Then, one day late in the week, in the afternoon, I noticed the sky darkening. I heard slight rumbles in the distance. I walked out to the shoreline and the wind started to blow in off the lake. There were even occasional drops of rain carried by the wind. We finally had a break in the weather. It felt so refreshing. It was so much cooler and I just stood there on the shoreline for awhile, looking out over the lake and letting the wind gush past me. I had a wonderful time on vacation the whole week, but that break in the weather felt like such a relief on my body. And it got me to thinking.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Matthew 11:29-30

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Psalm 119:133-135

133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

James 5:7-8

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.