For some odd reason, the old movie Forest Gump came to my mind the other day.  I was thinking of the running scenes.  He amazingly runs across America a few times (probably not part of the ‘Run for God’ that we are doing this summer).  If I remember correctly, he runs to get away and to think.  And then one day, he just stops and goes home.  He was just done.

Sometimes I feel like am just running.  Running to and from; busy all the time; picking up kids, going to the grocery store, back to get kids, forgot something at the store, over to the church and you know the routine.   We are a busy society.  Isn’t that our #1 response to ‘how are you doing’?  As if that is the answer of successful people.

I found rest in the account Luke writes about in his Gospel.  The 72 had just returned from sharing the Good News and giving a report to Jesus. They were super excited about all they had seen God do and I’m sure it was a busy time of sharing for them.  I don’t think they were bragging on themselves but on what God had done through them.  They said, “even the demons submit to us in Your name.”  His response: “I saw Satan fall like lighting from heaven…however, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:18-20).  As if to say, you DID great things in My name, but the more important thing is your salvation.  It’s not what you do, but what Jesus did for you.

It’s not about how much we do, but about the decision we have made to follow Christ.  We may get busy, but the important thing is being who Jesus made us to be.  We don’t have to run here & there all the time.  We should take time to just ‘be’ with God.  I’m so glad I don’t have to earn my Salvation…not sure I’d have time.  Have I taken the time to just be with God?

Well, time to finish things for youth group, recruit a couple of leaders, go get the kids, run back to the store (hopefully for the last time this week!), finish a sermon…

PB