21 October 2009 Devotion for Today "What is Lacking" I Thess 3:8-10

21 October 2009 Devotion for Today "What is Lacking" I Thess 3:8-10

 
 

Have you ever left to go on a trip, having packed rather hurriedly,and then sensed that somewhere along the way that something was missingor that you had forgotten to do something?  About ten years ago, my lovely wife surprised me with a birthday trip to Philadelphia by train from Union Station in Washington, D.C.  The day arrived and we

packed and made our way to the station.  When we arrived at the platform, the conductor asked to see our tickets.  I reached into my jacket pocket to retrieve them, only to discover that they were not there. Robin searched her purse to no avail. Frantic, we searched our luggage-still no train tickets.  The train was due to leave in about thirty minutes.  "What do we do?" We asked the conductor.  The conductor smiled, "Happens all the time!  If you have a reservation, the ticket agent will be happy to produce new tickets if you can verify ID."  We thanked him for his help and were able to secure new tickets for the journey, and boarded the train just in time.

 
 

We found the lost tickets when we returned home. They were sitting on the coffee table next to the telephone.  We had called someone about the care of our children and were discussing the travel arrangements and pulled them out of the luggage to look at them. We had just forgotten to put them back.

 
 

Of course, such a time of panic might well have been avoided had we made certain that we had the tickets before we left the house.  But this happens, sometimes.  We were just glad we had what we needed to get new ones made.  In life, we may not always be able to take time to

be sure that we have what we need, only to discover ourselves severely short of resources at a crucial time. 

 

Our faith is like this as well. Many do not take the time to build their faith and personal relationship with God because they are hurriedly going about the pace of life.  Its not that they feel its important, but the focus of other things crowds out the essentials. 

 
 

But then the "big trip" comes.  Suddenly people find themselves having crossed over death's threshold before they realize what has happened. And Christ asks for the credentials to enter into Heaven and these same people realize that they have left it sitting on the coffee table-

the plan of salvation inside their Bibles which they never took time to read and make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. 

 
 

The Apostle Paul commends the church in Thessaloniki because of their faith and love (verse 6).  He was concerned that because he had to leave in such a hurry that he might have forgotten to lay the sufficient ground-work for their effective growth in commitment to Jesus Christ:

"For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.  For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"

 
 

There are others who have just what they need to take them to Heaven, but there are things lacking to give them the joy and hope needed to sustain them in this life.  May the Lord help you to search your heart to see what is lacking.  Perhaps you lack discipline, or courage, or

maybe you continually fall into temptation.  Is there a lack of love

there to point others to the Savior?  Is peace lacking to help you combat worry and frustration?  May the Lord help you check your spiritual baggage today, so that there is nothing lacking.  Have a blessed day.

 (from 10 April 2001)