December 29, 2004

[Rev. Doc]

The Frustrated Father

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest?' I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest."
John 4:35

It is said of one of the famous composers that he had a rebellious son who used to come in late at night after his father and mother had gone to bed. And before going to his own room, he would go to his father's piano and slowly, as well as loudly, play a simple scale, all but the final note. Then leaving the scale uncompleted, he would retire to his room. Meanwhile the father, hearing the scale minus the final note, would writhe on his bed, his mind unable to relax because the scale was unresolved. Finally, in consternation, he would stumble down the stairs and hit the previously unstruck note. Only then would his mind surrender to sleep once again.

In the same way, how frustrated the Heavenly Father must be with those who seem to share the good news in word or deed, and yet fail to strike the last note and invite those around them to accept the Son.

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to help you to remember to follow through and invite others to accept God's gift of grace, through Jesus Christ His Son.

"In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering."
~Howard Hendricks