Big, Fat Zero
February 18, 2008 – 10:40 pmI remember when the coke product with the word “zero” showed up on the market. It’s a pretty good drink. Kind of like regular coke, only there are 0 calories and no sugar! That’s my kind of coke! The first one was great! The second one was pretty good, the third one wasn’t so hot (ah, cold?), the fourth one…well, you see where this is going.
So, I went back to the diet stuff. Still, it’s not the real thing – the Classic! It’s definitely got more kick to it.
Kind of like being Christians, followers of Jesus, or disciples-of-God stuff. Do people look at the Church wanting the real thing but often what they get amounts to nothing but a big, fat zero; sort of a what-you-see is not what you get experience? I was told some time ago that most restaurant staff hate working on Sundays because that’s the day the church comes to eat. Apparently we show up after church, complain a lot about the food and service. Then to top it all off, we’re tight tippers. If this is true, it’s a sad testimony to the church. Next time I eat out on Sunday I’ll make sure to move my mouth only to eat and give a generous tip.
What about the other life-stuff? You know – stop hounding the store clerks. Gracefully give up our place in line to the people who just butt in front. Stop honking the horn because the light was green for three seconds and the car in front didn’t move fast enough. Help our partner set the table for supper. As a matter of fact, show up on time to eat a meal that took hours to prepare. Hug your kids. When’s the last time we told someone in our family “I love you”? This small stuff is the real stuff – the real thing that makes, shapes or breaks other people and their perception of God.
Yeah, the real thing. Is the world getting the message? Are they seeing it at work in our lives? Is everything we touch, the places we go, the movies we watch, or the things we say reflecting the Real Thing?
Big, fat zero – or the Real Thing.
You decide. The choice is yours.
John 13:35 - Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (New Living Translation)
Pastor D
