Tom Zimmer – PhotoBubba – tomzimmer.wordpress.com

Don had surgery Tuesday, so he couldn’t be at the Chapter meeting on Thursday. He called me and asked if I would provide the devotional at the meeting, and of course I said yes.

Don asked me to give the devotional tonight. He had started preparing it himself a couple of weeks ago, but God only gave him the topic, and Bible verses. 

The topic is “Ride and Shine!”, and the verses are;

Matt 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

The Bible gives us God’s word, and there are some aspects of God’s plan that are clear. For example, Jesus lives in us, and we live in Him. The Holy Spirit lives in us and guides us to the individual ministry He has for us, and He empowers us to accomplish the plan God has for our lives. We love motorcycles, and so it is natural that God would use them as part of his plan to reach people, like us that also love bikes, and the wind, and the sounds, and the smells, and all of it.   

But, There are other things about God’s plan that are a little harder to understand, for example, why would he use imperfect vessels like us to accomplish his plan, and then give us free will so we can decide whether we want to participate in His plan or not. But, understand it or not, that is what God has decided, and it has consequences. 

One very specific consequence is something I have struggled with my whole life. When God says Go, I often don’t want to go, and as Debbie pointed out, it is pretty funny that God has me giving this devotional, since it is the very thing I struggle with. God has to spend time convincing me that I should get out of my recliner and get out there where He can use me. As the verse says, “we don’t light a light, and hide it under a basket”. If people are going to see our light, the light of Jesus who lives in us and who IS the Light to the world, we have to go out where people are, so they can see the Light of Jesus living through us. 

When God does finally overcome my resistance and I do go, I do have a good time, and I do get to see Him using me, which is what I wanted all along. I praise God for completing His plan, and for not following my plan, and I praise God for a wife that encourages me to get out there when I need a push. 

Let’s pray;

Lord we Praise You for your plan to use each of us, and we Praise You that you have enough patience to convince us to get up and to get out there where You can show the world Your Light in us. We thank You for All that You Do, In Jesus Name AMEN!