Why are some Missing the Best Things in Life
Washington State led 61-56 with 25 seconds left before Dan Grunfeld cut it to one with a rare four-point play, hitting a long 3-pointer from the corner and making a free throw, his only points of the game. With 17.2 seconds left, Washington State could not inbound the ball against Stanford’s defense and turned it over on a five-second violation. Stanford tried to hold the ball for the last shot, but it was knocked away from Chris Hernandez, and the wild scramble followed. Nick Robinson, who hit the last second, shot that, lifted the Cardinal past Arizona last month, finally gained control and flipped the ball back to Lottich for the game-winner. The long shot sent the Stanford players leaping for joy and prompted Washington State’s fans to throw items on the floor in disgust. “I grabbed someone and gave them a hug and said, ‘We did it again!”’ Grunfeld said.
LK. 4:14-16, 22, 28-29Mark 6:1-6 MT. 13:53-58
Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day," he recalled in his book Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable. "I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger
daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, ’Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin’ and I’ll tell you really fast.’ "Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, ’Honey, you can tell me -- and you don’t have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly." "I’ll never forget her answer: ’Then listen slowly.’"
Have you been there?
Few people have had a greater opportunity to have a personal, real encounter with Christ, than those who lived in his hometown. What He found here was only a negative response and discontentment. Here, in his own homeland, few people would see him for who he is. They missed the astonishing because he seemed so ordinary. They missed the occasion because he was so common. They missed his true point because it was so noticeable.
1. we are missing the best because the astonishing seems ordinary.
One of the reasons that many miss the affect of the gospel is because they suppose it is weak because we are seeing the ordinary and not the astonishing. Familiarity often does indeed raise disapproval. The people of Jesus hometown couldn’t see past the hometown boy and see the Savoir of the
world. Are we failing to see the Potential and the possibilities in our lives? We are if you failing to see what God can do in you and with you!
There is an old story told about a man by the name of Ali Facid. He had a small farm and a family. One day, the story goes, a Buddhist priest came by and said to Ali Facid: You know, there are valuable stones called diamonds, and if you get one of these you could be a wealthy man." Ali Facid went to bed that night, but the words of the old priest haunted him. He was so obsessed that he felt that he must find him one of these diamonds so that he could become a ruler. He sold his farm, put his family out to neighbors and went out to find his acres of diamonds. Months passed. He was broken in body and spirit. His funds were gone. Moreover, at the Bay of Barcelona, he threw himself into the water, never to walk this earth again. Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm bent over one day and picked up a little stone. He laid it on the mantle that night not knowing what it was. A few days later the old Buddhist priest came by, saw it, and exclaimed Ali Facid must be back from his search. No, came the response. Then where did that diamond come from? The farmer replied, "I was out plowing in the garden and found it there." And friends, did you know that from that very garden, for this is not a legend but a true story, came the jewels and diamonds that today adorn the crown heads of Europe and Russia. In Ali Facid’s own back yard, there were acres of diamonds and he knew it not. Are We Failing to See the Potential and the Possibilities in the Life of Others? Are We Failing to See the Potential and the Possibilities in Christ?
Matthew 11:28-29 are you really hearing what Christ is saying. The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I’m sure she had it coming."
2. we are missing the best because the Opportunity seems so Familiar.
Let us look at three areas that Christian might be failing because of the association.
A. Prayer- “We have not because we ask not." We simply do not pray. Praying to many seems like a too easy answer to what we face. There are those who believe God is in charge and so we don’t need to pray and to do so would make a mockery of God. Others believe that we should be praying but it is for the more spiritually mature like a pastor or missionary.
B. Worship- Heb. 10:25, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of
some, but exhorting one another.” The Bible gives this exhortation because God knows we need each other to help in our spiritual growth. Exhortation means to encourage one another or one way is to spur one another on in growth.
C. The Second Coming Heb. 10:25, “and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
2 PT 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." I would have to believe that most if not all of us that hear this message do believe that Christ will come again. I would ask do we anticipate it happening. Who was Jesus? He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears. Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world. Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus died, yet by His death, He destroyed the power of death. Gregory of Nazianzus, A.D. 381 3. we are missing the best because the Objective seems Obvious.
We are supposed to be winning the lost to Christ yet many are too comfortable to want to reach out and touch others with love. So the story goes
A man who was on a luxury liner and suddenly he falls overboard. He can’t swim and in desperation, he begins calling for help. Now it just so happens that there several would be rescuers on deck who witnessed the incident. The first man was a MORALIST. When he saw the man fall overboard, he immediately reached into his briefcase and pulled out a book on how to swim. He now tossed it to him and he yelled: Now brother, you read that and just follow the instructions and you will be all right. We can throw the Bible to some one who is lost and they will stay lost unless we take time to explain it.
The man next to him happened to be an IDEALIST. When he saw the man fall overboard he immediately jumped into the water and began swimming all around the drowning man saying, Now just watch me swim and Do as I do and you will be all right. We can live with a high standard of living and not be of help to anyone who needs help. The person next to him happened to be a member of the INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH. He looked upon the drowning man’s plight with deep concern. He yelled out: Now, just hold on friend. Help is on the way. We are going to establish a committee and dialogue your problem. Then, if we have come up with the proper financing, we will resolve your dilemma. A how to book does not help if there is no action?
The next man on deck happened to be a representative of the school of POSITIVE THINKING. He yelled out to the drowning man: "Friend, this situation is not nearly as bad as you think. Think dry!" There was at least two times in my life when I was drowning and all the thinking I could do did not save me. In my being under water, I was not thinking about ways to solve my problem, I wanted to be saved. The next man on board happened to be a REVIVALIST. By this time, the drowning man was going down for the third time and desperately began waving his arm. Seeing that, the revivalist yelled out: Yes brother, I see that hand, is there another? Is there another? The last man on deck was a REALIST. He immediately plunged into the water, at the risk of his own life, and pulled the victim to safety.
Conclusion: The People were so near to Jesus but so far away. They rejected him because
He was too simple - too obvious - too ordinary.
There is a story of the English firefighter that scaled a latter three stories up to save a woman. We he broke the window she was on hiding in the corner and he was barley able to see her because of the thick smoke. He called to her to take his hand that was only a few inches away but the frightened woman panic and withdrew father into the smoke only to perish. When interviewed all the fireman could say, "She wouldn’t let me save her."
ALWAYS BE YOUR BEST!
When you think it doesn’t matter
if you fail or pass the test.
Keep in mind the reason why
you should always be your best.
While the whole world may not notice
if you tried to give your all,
there is a person in you
to whom it matters if you fall.
That little voice inside you -
which directs your thoughts each day -
will make the final judgment
if you won or lost each day.
Never can you fail yourself
if you give it all you’ve got.
The world extends a hand to you
when you give life your best shot.
For all that, really matters
when your finished with your test,
is not the final score at all -
but did you do your best.
- Tom Krause
