“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Matthew 23:24

Cannonball Contest! That was the bait line I used to try to excite 2 of my grandkids to help me with a small problem. The last tropical storm left my swimming pool filled to the top, so I thought the line would motivate the kids to help remove some of the water. But looking at the pool, there were THOUSANDS of little tiny bugs laying dead on top! So I grabbed a strainer to clean it up!

Pool screen comes in various sizes, and I had the smallest and tightest screen available. But somehow, a tiny species of gnat managed to get in between the screen mesh anyway. When I tried to find out WHY, the explanation was more gross than the carnage! Having been attracted to the water, their dead bodies lay floating on top, needing a cloth filter to screen them out.

As I was skimming the pool, I thought about this Bible verse and Jesus’ confrontation of the Pharisees of His day. Being legalistic, they would do things intending to SHOW that they were completely obeying the Law. But Jesus saw their dead works and called them out! This verse is a perfect metaphor for the ridiculous, and made me think about the ‘swallow-ability’ of my own life!

The rules and laws we live by have changed drastically since I was a kid. The major theme of change seems to yield laws allowing greater permission for doing things previously unacceptable. Sadly, swallowing camels seems to have become the norm. But now I am convicted that too much focus on camels has led me to forget about the basics of paying attention to the smaller details!

I think God is not as much interested in my opinions of how the world is going as He is about MY own heart as I move through it. While on earth, Jesus never took a public stand against slavery. He DID, however, command that slaves treat their masters with honor! WHAAAAA? He didn’t condemn those who attacked His people, but DID command that His people love their attackers!

When I get to Heaven, and yes, I WILL be there, I will be graded on how well I loved the unlovely and reacted to the ridiculous! Calling out evil in those doing it doesn’t’ seem to win them over to Jesus’ side. Loving them in action and word seems to be what Jesus was trying to say. Trying to get God to swallow my life of righteous indignation at a world gone bad isn’t going to go down well.

What are YOU trying to get God to swallow about YOUR prickly life?

“In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Psalm 81:7

“Thank you Lord!” Those words were said POST-Hurricane Idalia as I was picking up a half-garbage can of small branches from the ground. It was a HUGE difference from last year’s Hurricane Ian where, it seemed, every road was lined with 8’ tall tree branches. EVERYBODY had lost SOMETHING. With that remembrance in mind, local Floridians began to freak out over the news of another storm.

Having been here since 1975, I don’t have near the concern as, let’s say, someone who has moved here recently. Without experience, it is hard to know what to expect. So when a ‘newby’ asked me if they should ‘board up’ their windows, I let them know that I don’t even THINK about that until a Cat 4 has been announced as imminent! Experience tells me personally, it just isn’t worth the effort.

Storms of life ALWAYS leave lessons. Some are more painful than others. And depending on whether the weather hits directly, or just comes close, determines what folks might do in another difficult season of life. My experience has proven over and over again that ANY kind of storm that is headed my way, is best filtered through the strength and promises that come from KNOWING my God and Savior, Jesus Christ!

The world has, and always will, argue over what the world believes is most important. It’s the same with the other 2 enemies of the Believer… the ‘Flesh’ and the ‘Devil.’ The agenda of those enemies are NEVER in my favor. I know that from reading God’s Word AND from experience! Sure, I’ve tried testing and arguing with God over what is most important. In the end, He has ALWAYS been right!

So while the world is freaking out over things that MIGHT happen, I try hard to keep my eyes on God who already HAS a 100% perfect Track Record in application during life’s storms. Jesus is Coming back! It could be today… or it could be 2000 years from now. But He IS… Coming back! And EVERYONE will be either rewarded, or judged, based upon their own personal Faith in Him and preparation!

So what do YOU know and believe about Jesus Christ? Because the answer to THAT question, is the only one that will matter when He comes! Tick-Tock!