What Have You Done?

My mum very kindly picked me up from the airport on my first trip back home this year and needed to fill up the car at the airport service station before heading home. Because there were so many cars waiting for petrol, my mum decided to park in the only vacant petrol bay which meant the fuel tank was on the far side of the car and the pump and hose would have to reach over the back of the car in order to fill up. She has a small car so she didn’t think this would be a problem and placed the nozzle in the tank and looked at the bowser to see the cost as she proceeded to pull the lever and start filling up the car.

BUT the hose was not quite far enough in the tank and petrol immediately spurted out all over my mum, down her leg, and started pooling on the ground. At a quick shriek from me (and the oddly wet feeling in her pants) my mum let go of the lever and we sheepishly looked around to make sure no-one was looking (or at least laughing) at us. We drove the next hour to the Gold Coast with the unbearably strong smell of petrol (coming from my mum) but by the time we got there, we had sort of got used to it and it didnt bother us that much any more.

Has God been speaking to you at all this year? Has he pointed out something to you that you need to change but you have gotten used to it and done nothing about it? Has the deep sense of that new thing God wanted you to do faded? Our failure to do what the Spirit prompts or indeed what God has commanded in the Bible is a stench to God, and to us when we are reading his word and seeking his will. But if we stop spending time with God, we can get used to sin and mediocrity.

The offerings that the Israelites presented to God were “a pleasing aroma to the LORD” because of their obedience to Him. This phrase occurs 25 times in the Old Testament (eg Numbers 15:13). How is your obedience? If there is something you need to do, do it! Do you remember how strong the desire or command was? How you so wanted to do something about it? How you knew you had to act? If so, there is something you need to do.

Or maybe the Holy Spirit hasn’t been pricking your conscience or making anything clear to you, however, there is still a command for you.

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33)

Now go and present yourself “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spritual act of worship.” (Rom 12:1)

My mum was looking at the cost and she paid the price.
It wasnt worth it…