Pebbles

Large rocks never really get in the way because they are obvious! However, it’s the little pebbles that you can’t see that get stuck in the rubber part of your shoe! You don’t notice until you hear the clicking sound when you’re back on the sidewalk! If you stop, you might lose too much time, but every step you take, you hear click, click! You try scraping your shoe with each stride but nothing! You decide to ignore the sound and keep going because nothing is going to stop you! You want what you want and nothing is going to get in your way! So, you try to keep moving! Because you have a schedule to keep! But, the click, click sound turned into knock, knock! So, do you hear God’s small still voice? The only way to remove the pebble, is to slow down and stop so you can take it out! We need the abiding relationship with Jesus (John 15:5) to keep us from spiritual blindness, so we can hear His voice! The pebble is just a physical example of what happens spiritually! Now that we are home, the world is trying to sneak through our tv and electronic devices opening us up to a world full of things to do. However, we need to be awake, alert and sober minded (1 Peter 5:8-9), because this multimedia world can become a stumbling block! If we’re not careful, we might do social distancing inside our home with our own family. If we’re not standing firm on Jesus the cornerstone, we will be stuck like sinking sand!

When we read scripture, pray, and discuss what we learn. We will grow as we are lead by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 7:4, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? What will happen if I take my eyes off the road and slow down to examine the pebble in my shoe, or condition of my heart! It is through talking to God and asking Him to search me and know me and to actively listen to the truth! When we listen to what Jesus says by slowing down, so we can actually hear His small still voice God will lead us and show us through relationships what is going on inside our own hearts. We need to be humble to receive by choosing to stop and listen. It might be stopping to hear my child share his heart or listen to my brother! It might be setting aside what You want to do for your spouse or friend in need, we are to be the light in all circumstance! When we are the light, we are the salt too because we are living our love for each other. Jesus says, If you love me, you will follow my commands. We are the salt when we love the way Jesus loves us!

God won’t allow his children to be snatched out of his hands (John 10:28-29). So, the click, knock is an opportunity to trust Him with all of my life and not just a part of it! I will take the time to sit at His feet to listen and trust God with All my circumstances, in every relationship. If we keep
listening and abiding in Jesus, he will show us more! If We start to go our own way, God will slow you down in interesting ways, to slow you and show you which path to take! If we’re not humble and are to busy you might miss it! God will keep pursuing us and will keep putting things in our path to keep you on the straight and narrow! God knows each step you will take so He already has everything worked out for your good for those who love him who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

We need scripture and each other to keep on the right course and keep watch (Matthew 24:36-42). It is through talking to God and asking Him, “if I should stop or keep going?” The little things that slow down the progress of your day are like “pebbles” stuck in your shoe! They are not always bad! They can be losing your keys or phone! God can use that to get your attention, to slow you down! To remind you that we need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! (Matthew 6:33) It could be a sudden snow storm in summer! It can be annoying but meant for our own good! It might even cause you to get off course because you were heading in the wrong direction! The only way to know why something like “pebbles” comes into your day, is to pray and talk to sisters and brothers about what going on in your day! This brings everything into the light for God’s glory!