Commonsense

    A man booked passage on a ship with just enough money to buy a ticket, a block of cheese, and some crackers for the long voyage.  The first few days at sea the crackers and cheese tasted good, but eventually they became stale.  Each day the man watched the porters carry large steaks, lobsters, and many other delicious foods to the other passengers.  Soon he became so hungry that he stopped one of the porters.  “I’ll do anything to get one of those steaks,” he begged.  “I’ll wash dishes, clean rooms, anything you want.”  The porter replied, “You bought a ticket didn’t you?  The meals come with the ticket!” 
     Tragically, many today are content to be cheese and cracker Christians even while all the resources of God are available to them.  It’s like this: suppose you wanted to cash a check for one hundred dollars in your bank where you have several hundred dollars in the account.  Would you place your check on the counter, get down on your knees and plead, “Oh please Miss Teller, cash my check?”  Of course not!  You simply go by faith, place the check on the counter, then wait for the money that is all-ready yours.  Next you thank the teller and simply go on your way. 
     And in exactly the same way, you claim the resources that God has supplied through the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  Know that as a Christian, you may come to God in prayer and claim by faith the inexhaustible riches that He has provided for all His children.  Meditate on these words that Jesus spoke, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). 
     To know God is to love Him.  To love Him is to trust Him.  To trust Him is to rest in Him.  To rest in Him is to know that everything is going to be alright.  And to know that everything is going to be alright, helps keep focus.
     It is said that when Lord Horatio Nelson was fighting the battle of Copenhagen, his senior officer, Sir Hyde Parker, also known as Old Vinegar, hoisted the flag signaling retreat.  Lord Horatio Nelson deliberately put his telescope to his blind eye and said, “I don’t see it.”  If he had surrendered when it looked like defeat, he would not have captured twelve Danish ships. 
     When we fight the battle of life, the devil will hoist his flag with the attempt to discourage us.  He’ll blast his trumpet with the endeavor to freeze us up with fear.  But, child of God, remember who you are, who you serve, and what He said.  Put a blind eye to the tactics of the devil then open your eyes wide to the Word of God.  He wants you to win the battles of life.  He has given all the resources we need and all we have to do is implement them. 
     If we get beat up or do with-out it is not God’s fault.  God gives us food but He won’t cook it or put it in our mouth.  He gives us transportation but He won’t maintain it.  He gives us commonsense for the purpose of taking care of what He gives us.  Commonsense is what many need.

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