Splitting Wood

Have you ever said something that was a thought, but instead of thinking it, you just blurted it out?  Yesterday was week 3 of the “Biggest Loser.”  We ended service with another baptism (congrats Colleen Flynn)!  Before baptizing Colleen, when I walked into the water I said, “Surprised to see this again? Get used to it!” I haven’t stopped thinking about that since.

 

This past Saturday was my graduation from Lincoln Christian University.  In case you were wondering, I did not go.  Last night, after we put the kids to bed, Asia (my wife) had to do some studying for class, and I had nothing to do.  It’s been the first Sunday in almost 2 years that I haven’t had to think about my upcoming assignments.  I spent yesterday afternoon finishing up some projects inside the house and with nothing left to do, I could either watch TV  and distract Asia, or I could go outside and split wood for bonfires.  I went outside. 

 

The wood I was splitting was from a few oak trees that had been cut down years earlier and just tossed in the shrubs at the back of the property.  They must have been lying there for years and somewhat rotted.  Some of the logs seemed water-logged, if that could happen.  The logs on top seemed to be the driest and easiest to split.  Some logs were big and heavy, others were short and light.  Most were covered with dirt and bugs (yes I was wearing gloves).  While each piece I had split was different, each shares the same potential when used for its intended purpose.   Each piece I cut will be used with other pieces to make a fire.

 

But what if I never split the logs?   What if they remained in the shrubs for years to come?  Do they lose their potential?  As I write this, a thought hit me.  The potential of the wood is only accessed if I retrieve the log from the shrubs and do the hard work of splitting it.  Even then, the wood doesn’t then put itself on the fire to burn.  I have to start a fire and then place the wood on the fire.  The only thing it has to do is burn.

 

Read Colossians 2:13-15 and Hebrews 10:5-10

 

Like the wood in shrubs, our potential is nothing without Jesus.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

 

May I suggest to you that God has created you to “burn” for Him.  And the awesome aspect of that is He empowers us to live lives that are passionately consumed with Him.  He doesn’t expect us to get out of the shrubs, split ourselves, and then to burn for him on our own.  He is the one who has rescued us from the darkness.  He is the one who continues to work through the power of the Holy Spirit, making us more like the image of Jesus.  He is the one who places us together with other believers so we can passionately burn for him. 

 

Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

 

God has been and IS doing something amazing here at WestK.  I want to remind you, this is not the Jason show.  This is not the Elder or leadership show.  It is all about Jesus and what He is doing among our community of believers.  I am so excited about the future!  I look forward to the day where baptisms are not a once in a while occurrence, but are a weekly celebration!  And, I want to challenge you to join the Holy Spirit in what he is doing here.  I want to close with this passage.

1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

 

Don’t be surprised at the opportunities God gives you to share your love of Jesus.  In fact, get used to it!