Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Pastor's Blog

We’ve declared war!  No, this isn’t WW III, not does this have to do with Libya, Iran or North Korea.  The Buttery’s have declared war on the stinkbugs that have found access to our humble dwelling.  Since last summer, when there was an unusual influx of the vermin to the area, our home (and very likely many others too) was invaded non-stop by these pesky little creatures.  While it’s true that there are some benefits to having stinkbugs around, it’s kind of hard to remember the pluses when you’re chasing them through the house or one just got squashed accidentally and the horrid smell lingers making all residents queasy in the stomach.  But here they are occupying our quarters and they need to go, and go now!  So recently we’ve been very diligent.  We’ve been on the look out.  We’ve been hunting them down and getting rid of them one by smelly one.  On top of that, I finally got around to doing what I said I was going to do and started plugging up the holes where we think they’re finding entrance.  So far, day two, no stinkbugs and we’re holding our breath!  We are on a mission to driving them out because they simply don’t belong in our home.  Which makes me wonder whether as a follower of Jesus there might be something in the life that doesn’t belong there either.  When Joshua commissioned the twelve tribes to take the land divided to them, some fearlessly drove out the wicked Canaanites, trusting in God’s assurance to help, but there were some that weren’t as diligent to totally root out the enemy, thus showing their lack of faith in God’s promises.  The tribe of Ephraim was one of those who slacked off.  Instead of claiming God’s strength to remove all those who had filled up their cup of iniquity, they parlayed with the enemy and allowed these foreigners to stay in their midst.  Sadly, the future history of this tribe shows them lapsing completely into idolatry until God was forced to declare, “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone” (Hos. 4:17).  Not only should the fate of Ephraim serve as a warning to us to not bind ourselves to a contract with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14), but should quickly remind us of our responsibility to remove from the life those things that would lessen our fidelity to the Creator, or weaken our confidence and faith in His word.  Joshua’s final command to the tribes was “drive them out!”  A similar command comes to any Christian who is harboring something in the life that they know is hurting them and God.  We can’t be slack when it comes to sin.  All corrupting vices should be driven from the heart or there will be a heavy price to pay.  Let’s remember that lack of faith and courage are Satan’s allies.  But the command of God rings down through the ages, “Thou shalt drive them out.”  Good advice when it comes to stinkbugs, but I’ll take it for anything that God thinks needs to go in my life.  How about you?

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