This year we decided to look for an AirBnb at Virginia Beach for our vacation. The condo we rented was small and not luxurious, but our bedroom had a balcony that overlooked the ocean. I could hear the waves lapping if I left the sliding glass doors open. It was perfect!
Our condo was located in a resort, but since it was through AirBnB, we weren’t sure what conveniences we were entitled to. A large sign on the refrigerator indicated that daily housekeeping would not be done. All week we used the same two sets of towels and wash clothes provided, and all week Donn carried our garbage to the Refuse and Recycle receptacles near the elevator.
On the last day of vacation, I read the “fine print” at the bottom of the Welcome to the Ocean Sands Resort sign hanging on our refrigerator. (It was beside the sign with the larger print that said No Housekeeping.) This sign said, To schedule towel exchange or to have your trash removed from your room, please dial 0. I groaned. It was too late now, but we could have had clean towels every day instead of using the same two sets all week. We could also have had our trash removed instead of carrying it to the receptacles ourselves.
In the total scheme of things, no real harm was done because we didn’t understand the privileges that were ours. We still bathed and got rid of our garbage! However, it made me wonder how often Christians suffer unnecessarily because they don’t understand the privileges that are ours in Christ.
Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.
(What a Friend We Have in Jesus)
Just as we didn’t read the “fine print” on the sign on our refrigerator, many Christians don’t read God’s Word regularly and become familiar with the promises there…promises they can’t claim because they don’t know what they are. I’ve talked about this before but it bears repeating. The best decision I ever made (around age 25) was to read God’s Word every day. I can’t imagine how differently my life might have turned out if I’d never made that choice.
One of my favorite memories is of my mother sitting in a chair in our living room reading her Bible. Little did she know that later in life, she would suffer from macular degeneration and no longer be able to read God’s promises. But nothing could rob her of the words stored up in her heart from the hours she’d spent reading God’s Word.
I pray you won’t neglect one of the most valuable treasures God has given us, the treasure of His Word. II Peter 1:4 tells us, “He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Wow! I don’t know about you, but I want to claim every promise that will enable me to participate in the divine nature because my human nature leaves much to be desired. But the choice is ours.
Father, enable us to make choices that will fill us with your Word and all the great and precious promises it contains. Show us how to claim your promises and make them our own. Amen.
