Recently my email program kept telling me that it could not connect to the server. After some tinkering, one of our hard-working IT specialists found the problem: My laptop was trying to find two networks and was connecting to neither. It was confused and stuck in a futile cycle of searching.
This is a problem that we can relate to far too well, isn’t it? We get pulled in the direction of the Spirit and the direction of the world. We get stuck. But eventually we have to make a choice.
Greg understands this choice, too. As a long-term inmate, he always believed that he had to be tough to survive. Until one day, in line at the prison, another inmate accidentally stepped on Greg’s feet. Trying to keep up his reputation as a tough guy, Greg slapped the other inmate. But this inmate didn’t retaliate. Instead, he looked at Greg and said, “Jesus loves you, and so do I.”
By God’s grace, Greg realized he had a choice: He could continue to serve the master of this world, or he could serve a new Master, one who would teach him the grace, self-control, truth, and courage shown by the Christian inmate. Greg didn’t waver between two masters. He chose Jesus! And now he and the Christian inmate are best friends, serving the Lord together behind bars.
Let’s not waver between two masters. Together, let’s seek first the Kingdom! In spite of the busyness of this time of the year, let’s choose to listen to and hear the Spirit, follow Jesus, and glorify God. Let’s participate in His mission to the world. Only then will we experience joy. Only then will we stop our confused and futile searching.