Don’t forget the Bread

 

   I recently heard someone tell a story that rung true in my heart and life.

His wife had called and asked him to please stop and pick up a loaf of bread on his way home from work.  He said he’d be glad to.  Her last words before they hung up the phone was, “Don’t forget the bread.”  He chuckled, “Of course I won’t forget, that’s why I’m going to the store.”  On his way home from work, he swung by the grocery store, but soon found himself distracted  as to why he was there.  He saw some bananas, and thought that sounded good, pretty soon he found himself in the cookie isle, then the chips, and somehow wandered over to the frozen section and eyed some ice cream, that just sounded so good.  Soon his cart was filling up with all kinds of yummy sounding food, enough to comfort his soul and satisfy his hunger craving quickly.  He went through the checkout, and headed on home.  As he got home and set the grocery sacks on the kitchen counter, his wife took a peak, and said, “Did you remember the bread?”

  Oh no!  The main reason he went, he had neglected to do.  Other things got in his way and distracted him.  To quote the movie “Up” it was a “Squirrel!!” moment.

    Though this mans story was funny it was the relate-ability of it that hit home.  How many times do we set out with good intentions to do something, but get distracted by all the enticing things along the way, and then miss the main point all together. I fear I’m not alone in this trouble. I’m an easily distracted person. I often have to rein myself in, and say, “whoa!” Not what I’m suppose to be doing.

  Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35).  So don’t forget the bread!  He’s the main thing.  Life wants to distract you at every turn, but the bread is what you’re looking for.  Don’t forget the bread!! Focus on the important and the thing you really need. The bread. And that bread is Jesus!

Remember Lots Wife

     One small verse with just three words. Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife!”  In my Bible the words are in red, which means, Jesus said them.  So if this is something Jesus said for us to remember, why is it I don’t ever remember hearing a sermon preached from this verse, or even really noticed it myself in my reading.

   Jesus said there’s something I want you to remember.  Remember Lot’s wife!  So what’s up with Lot’s wife, and why should we remember her?  Did she do something great for the kingdom of God, did her faith propel her into the Hall of Faith?  Did she face giants and defeat them?  Nope, none of those. Actually what she did was, she looked back.  And in looking back she died by turning into a pillar of salt, one of the most bizarre deaths recorded in the Bible. 

   She was living in a very evil place but rich in its worldly goods.  An angel had come to her and her husband Lot, and told them to flee Sodom, and not look back.  (Genesis 19:17) The angel even took them by the hand and rushed them out of the city, showing how eminent the danger was.  He warned that if they even looked back they would be consumed with the judgement that was going to consume Sodom and Gomorrah.

    “We need to look forward to our deliverance, not back at a world passing away and ripe for judgment.”  

    I’ve heard it said, if you drive looking in your rear view mirror you’ll wreck for sure.  Your future is in front of you, so quit looking back to what you use to have, or did, or the things you miss.  There’s a future ahead of you, not behind you.  Don’t crave and desire that sinful life you were living before Christ.  It’s a new life with Jesus that’s so much better than anything you had before.  So remember Lots wife and don’t look back!