I couldn't have been more than seven years old. It was then that I received one of the most simple yet profound sermons I have ever heard. It was short and direct. I remember every word of it. It is a story I have told over and over and over and.... If you have known me for more than a day or so, chances are you have heard it. But I'll tell it again.
The church was my driveway. The pew, a step ladder. The pulpit, an oil pan. And the preacher, my father. As he was changing the oil in the car, I watched. I don't know what made me say it. Maybe I was jockeying for the "better son" status. Whatever the reason, I meant it. I looked at him and said, "Hey dad. I love you. With me, you are right up there with God."
That's when the sermon came. He got up from the driveway. He was holding the oil pan. He walked over to me and said, "I love you too pal. But you can't love me more than God. You have to love God more than me. Okay?"
I could tell he was sincere. So I just said, "Okay."
"You have to love God more than me." The words echo in my mind. But it wasn't just the words. (At seven years old you can't really understand why your father would want you to love someone more than him.) It was that act of turning my focus off of him, my earthly father, and onto God, my Heavenly Father, that was so profound. It taught me a great lesson.
If only we could keep our focus there. Not on ourselves. Not on our spouse. Not on our job. Not even (and I say this knowing how difficult it is) on our children. But on Him.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart. All your strength. All your mind. Above all else, love Him. He deserves it. He's got the scars to prove it.
SDG
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