Make Room in 2017 (part 1)

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this but, for me, as I get older, time seems to go by more quickly. I must not be alone as there are several scientific theories as to why that’s the case. Until one of them enables us to slow down time I’m not sure how useful they’ll be…

We’re all busier as well.

That only adds to the feeling of time passing more quickly. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done.

Except I’ve also noticed that there are some things in life, regardless of whatever else is going on, that we make room for.

Whether it’s watching the TV or checking social media, going to the gym… we’ve all got something that feels important to us, so we make room. Some of these things can be quite healthy. Others not so much.

So where does God fit in. Is God so important that we make room or does God get pushed out to make room for other things? It’s not unusual for God to be pushed out is it…

There are two reasons that we don’t make room for God – very simple, but I think it’s true:

The first is: We are doing okay

When we are doing okay, we are in danger of not giving time to God. We forget that we still need Him.

Genesis 15: 1 – 5

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

The Bible reminds us of Abram’s righteousness another five times after this! (see Romans 4: 3, 9, & 22; Galatians 3: 6 and James 2:23)

Romans 4: 20-22 says

20 [Abram] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what [God] had promised [God] was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

 

Faith
There is no doubting the righteous faith of Abraham – yet he listened to Sarah and Ishmael was born to Hagar.

There’s little point speculating what could or should have happened at this point in Abraham’s life – the lesson is in looking at ourselves – do we have the righteous faith of Abraham?

Of course not.

So if Abraham, with his faith, did not anticipate the full extent of God’s miraculous plan, how could we possibly anticipate the extent of God’s plan for us?

Our only hope is to stay as close to God as possible so that when opportunities arise for God to work in our lives we are not fighting against His will unawares.

We need God in our Lives. Make room for him.

 

Comfortable
The warning then is not to lose the truth through complacency.

We grow comfortable in our lives and in our own strength – not necessarily with intent or to be wilfully disobedient – it is simply in our nature to rely upon ourselves. It’s the subtle way in which we stray from the path of righteousness.

All the more reason then to keep God in our lives, look to Him for strength, make it important in our daily life.

Remember: We make room for the things which are important.

 

David
We see a similar pattern in the life and behaviours of King David. In the Psalms, through inspiration, David reminds us of how God makes room for us…

Psalm 4:1- A Psalm of David
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

And in Psalm 18: 35-36
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

The word “enlarged“… It’s the same word as “relieved” in Psalm 4. It’s sometimes translated “enlarged” or “broadened” – It’s also translated as “made room”!

Genesis 26: 22  And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

 

Security
Here God provided a physical space – we know the same is true spiritually.

When we rely on Him, God makes room for us. We may still face challenges in life, like everyone else, except we are secure in that we have the knowledge and opportunity of the Kingdom of Promise – to be established at Jesus’ return.

God is our shield, our rock, our security… He is something to cling to, a constant, something that remains the same… how many things in life can we say that of?

 

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In part two we’ll look at the other reason for why don’t make room for God…

If you’d like an organised way of making room for God download our Bible Reading Calendar (see picture above). It’s a PDF that can be printed on A3. Each day on the calendar has a space to write a short note as well as containing a chapter from the Bible to read.

 

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