Sonja gets the last word…again

I prepare a devotional for my church family each day and include it in the Sunday bulletin.  Each Saturday I include a devotional by Sonja called: “Sonja gets the last word.”

They are all good; but this one (the devotional for last Saturday) was “disturbingly good” and I thought I’d share it with you today…

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Do you remember using the word “default” as a child?  I sure don’t!  But now that we are people attached at the hip with our computers, it is a common word that most of us understand.

The thing is, whether we understood what “default” meant or not, it was already programmed into the operating system we call “life.”  As human beings we automatically go back to what has been ingrained into our minds and make our decisions based on that information.

I was captured by this truth as I read Acts 9.  The Jewish leaders could not refute Paul’s evidence that Jesus was the longed-for Messiah, so they decided to kill him.  (verses 22-23)  Sound familiar?  When Jesus walked on the earth a few years earlier, the Jewish leaders couldn’t refute Him either, and their decision to kill Him, installed the “default” for future activity.  (Thank God, Paul was lowered in a basket and escaped!)

This leads me to Proverbs 10:17.  “He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others.  And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.” – Amplified Bible.

Like it or not, you are an influencer; someone is watching you and learning about life from your example.  If you have children, you are installing the behavior program into their pliable lives and hearts that will become the “default” throughout their lives.  (O God, how we need your mercy!)

•   If we model inconsistency and lack of commitment, guess what?
•   If we solve our problems by bickering and fighting, guess what?
•   If we take short cuts and “fudge” the truth, guess what?

This is a huge responsibility and none of us are perfect; but with God on our side, we can do all things – even become stellar role-models! People that model unconditional love, forgiveness, self-control and God-dependence.

See ya later…I think I need to re-start my computer!

Sonja