By David Phillips
Ice Cream and Chewing Gum
“According to what you are accustomed to…” We judge many things today by that very standard. In fact, that criterion alone is the basis for certain decisions in many people’s minds. If you’ve gotten hooked on Blue Bell ice cream but in these tight times you’ve decided to try the cheaper store brand, you’ll see all kinds of problems with the cheaper stuff, mostly because it is not what you are accustomed to. All of this also calls attention to our sense of adaptability, because if you stick with the store brand for a while and develop a taste for it, even when times are flush again, you’ll stay with it because not only have you become accustomed to it, but it saves money as well, so now you can afford more chewing gum.
While it is admittedly difficult to refrain from standing up for the merits of ice cream and chewing gum, all of this brings up one very important point: there are some things that we DON’T need to become accustomed to, such as:
- Not attending public worship assemblies. Most of us are currently restricted, prevented, hindered from gathering together in our regular assemblies at our traditional meeting place. Quite frankly, I’m not sure what it is that is so dangerous about the number 10, but Government has decided that we can only assemble in numbers less than that, for now, and fear has literally been instilled in the hearts of a big portion of America. This pandemic has taught us so much. Like the danger in haircuts. I’ve had so many of them in my life that it is a wonder that I’ve survived, not knowing until now how dangerous they were. We are coming up on the seventh Sunday that we’ve not been permitted to assemble, and we have made the best accommodations we can to assemble “virtually” and worship together. During that time, we may have become somewhat comfortable with attending Sunday worship from the couch in the den, cup of coffee in hand, dressed in pajamas, with early morning hair. (I have my own opinions regarding such a casual approach to worshiping God, even in “private”, but I can share those with you later.) Suffice it to say that from a physical standpoint, that’s easy to get accustomed to. Don’t let it happen. The tried and true practice of assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25) is filled with spiritually encouraging, strengthening benefits. So when we are “turned loose” to resume normal assemblies, unless your physical health prevents it, let’s immediately get back to it.
- A relaxed approach to serving. Serving one another is serving God, whether it is something so minor as a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42), being a good neighbor (Luke 10:36-37), or in some way bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Our present restrictions, related to COVID-19, have likely made it difficult to practice outward kindness and generosity on the level we have before. Don’t get accustomed to that limited level of serving others. When circumstances are “back to normal” we need to be bursting out with our work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
- Not practicing personal evangelism. A favorite verse of mine on the subject of personal evangelism is Psalm 126:6 – He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Right now, most of us are unable to do much going to and fro, sowing the seed of the Gospel. Let’s not let that grow on us. Don’t get used to the idea that personal evangelism is a thing of the past. When our nation is “opened back up”, all of God’s people need to get immediately back to the business of being salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
Things for most of us have been really different, for at least two months now. Let’s not get accustomed to all of that, but as soon as we are able, let’s get back to the “tried and true”, and keep showing the world around us every aspect of serving God. Your daily living may be the only sermon some folks will ever hear. Make it count.