This extract from Acts 10 verse 14 came to mind recently.
I experienced a problem with my faithful laptop computer when an essential component (for me) was no longer working. After Internet searches, and several unsuccessful attempts to resolve it, I resorted to contacting Microsoft Support. Surprisingly quickly I had a response from an agent who suggested a few actions that had been tried. He then asked if I would be willing to allow him “remote access” and when I agreed he recommended closing any open programmes and after using a few keystrokes I was able to sit back and watch the cursor (pointy thing) move around the screen as though my computer had a mind of its own. At the top of the screen, there was an option for me to cancel that access for whatever reason. I didn’t and the problem was eventually resolved.
Some years earlier, an itinerant preacher related how he was invited to conduct a series of five-weeknight Bible teaching meetings at a church. As this involved being in a city some distance from his home he was invited to stay for the week at the home of one of the deacons. On his arrival, the hostess took him upstairs, showed him a bedroom and said, “Please make yourself at home. This is for your exclusive use for as long as you are with us”. After the door was closed he started to unpack his suitcase but found the first drawer of the dressing table was locked.
Recalling these separate incidents challenged me about my relationship with my Lord. It is so easy to sing about Jesus as (my) Lord but are there areas in my life where like Peter I say “not so Lord”. Do I suddenly withhold His “remote access “to my life and/or are there areas in my life that are “locked” to His involvement and influence?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we ask that we be careful when we sing that we may mean what we say. Amen.