BETTER MOVE

One of the garage lights had the ballast quit.  So hubby and I decided to replace it.  Easy, right?  We did one in the office so no big deal. 

Trip 1:  Off to the hardware store to get a replacement.  This is just what you need.

Trip 2:  Return ballast.  Try another one.  (Yes, we had the information off the non-working one.)

Trip 3:  Return ballast two and try the lumber yard.  (You must remember this is a small town.)

Trip 4:  Return ballast to lumber yard.

Trip 5:  30 mile round trip to next town which guaranteed they had the correct one.  There Bill found out they no longer make the one we were replacing.  But this one will work.

Trip 6:  Back to hardware store to get additional wire because the wire supplied with the ballast was not long enough. 

Finally, Bill was on the ladder and began taking down the old ballast.  I was holding the work light when I had a thought, “I better move.”

I moved.  Ballast fell.  Right where I was standing.

LISTENING

Mary listened and answered, “I am the Lord’s servant.”  Joseph listened and became a father.  The Wise Men listened and found the child.  Joseph listened and the family escaped to Egypt.  Joseph listened and the family lived in a town called Nazareth.  John the Baptist listened and baptized Jesus.  The disciples listened and followed Jesus.  Jesus listened and obeyed his Father.

Did you notice that each listening was followed with an action?  The action of obeying.

OBEYING

Sometimes the obeying part is easy.  Moving made sense, so I moved.  Glad I did or a non-working light would have been the least of our worries.  That old ballast was a bit heavy.

Most times, the obeying part is much harder than the listening part.  Why?  Obeying requires something of us. 

Abram (Abraham) was instructed to walk faithfully and be blameless and became the father of many nations.  Noah was warned of things not seen and built an ark.  Esther risked her life and saved the Jews.  Simeon was righteous and devout and held the baby Jesus.  Jesus told Matthew, “Follow me.” and Matthew followed.

And sometimes we obey for only a brief time.

Peter walked on the water and then sank.  The rich man wanted eternal life but went away.  Judas was a disciple and betrayed Jesus.  The people shouted, “Hosanna!” and then shouted, “Give us Barabbas!”  Peter swore he would never disown Jesus and denied him three times.

BOTTOM LINE

Listen and then, like the old song says, trust and obey.