“So we make it our goal to please Him.” 2 Cor 5:9

It was a day just like every other. I received 3 phone calls from numbers that neither I nor my phone ID recognized. I didn’t answer them. Having heard the mail truck, I went to my mail box and found it stuffed FULL! After sorting it all, there was not even 1 envelope of any importance. I threw is all in the trash! Then the thought hit me…‘all that came because of a meeting!’

Having been in sales most of my working career, I understand the importance of what companies call ‘getting leads.’ This ‘marketing’ area has grown more and more sophisticated over time as companies glean and analyze information to find the most cost effective ways to get me interested, and then buy, their product. Whether I like it or not!

I am turning 65 this year and I didn’t know there were so many insurance and retirement companies. But my mailbox does! Hundreds of people I don’t even know…know who I am, where I live and when my birthday is! Christian organizations know I am a pastor and send me correspondence in order to get an order… or simply a ‘gift.’ May I be honest? The more sophisticated the marketing, the more cynical I become. AND apathetic! Now throw Jesus into the mix!

God our creator speaks loud and clear. His desire and COMMAND is that I put ALL of me into His hands and put ALL of HIM…FIRST! It’s #1 on His Big 10 list! Throw in 2020 marketing, the expenses of living, family, work, regulations and sinful desires, and it is easy to allow Him to slide right out of sight. But after consideration, I realize I have NEVER ONCE gotten mail, or an email, from Jesus!

Jesus Christ is not not pushy. I can guess that if He were a commissioned only salesman, He’d starve to death! He created us and then gave us the choice to reach out to Him. When we sinned, He came, paid sin’s price Himself, backed away and simply said, “Come to me!” Which means for EVERYTHING! Then He waits.

I know God’s marketing strategy is completely by ‘word of mouth.’ MY mouth! He thrills, excites, helps, gives, and blesses me more than ANYTHING on the face of this earth. HE knows what I need, but is perfectly fine with letting me lose, fail, fall and reject my own best interests, which is Him. I’m making my own Lenten strategy. The company of ‘me, myself and I’ needs to call a daily meeting and ask the marketing question…”What can I do to please HIM?”