Scratch That Itch!

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 4

Scripture Focus: Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. (Jeremiah 4.3)

Devotional Thought: Recently, my pastor told the story of a Christmas gift he had received but had inadvertently placed on a shelf unopened.  He said that he was about to go out and buy something when he saw the wrapped gift on his shelf.  He unwrapped it, and there was the very thing he needed.  As he spoke, God reminded me that I must not let my gifts "sit on the shelf unopened."  Or, in the words of Jeremiah, to let them lie fallow. 

Well, just last week I had a meeting with a church board concerning serving as the interim pastor for their congregation while they conduct their pastoral search.  I was pretty excited, for I have been experiencing "preacher's itch" for the past several weeks.  Since refocusing my ministry toward writing, I have had limited opportunities to scratch that itch.  Now I'm going to get to scratch it weekly.  Good for me, but I'm not so sure about the folks in the new congregation!

Jeremiah urged the people of God to "break up your fallow ground."  They had allowed all the privileges and blessings of God to sit unopened on a shelf.  It was time to realize who they were, and more importantly, whose they were!

Are you allowing the gifts and call of God to lie fallow in your life?  Jesus is still calling and empowering his disciples to serve him.  Will you do it?  The need is greater today than ever.

But we must be careful.  We must listen for the voice of God.  There is a wrong way to break up your fallow ground: among thorns.  Put your best effort in the thing to which God is calling.  Everything else will be thorns.  Those scratch the itch in the wrong way!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that I still have a purpose, and I must not allow it to remain fallow.  Help me to open up the gifts you have given me to serve you and others.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 106.13-18

13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert;

15 he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.

16 When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord,

17 the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

18 Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.