Catch Up Reading

Scripture Reading:
Exodus 25-32

As You can see, and already knew, I got a little bit behind in my discipline this weekend, even as I taught on it for Exodus. Certainly, there were some other things we were doing together Lord (like preparing the sermon), but still I fell behind in the reading. Which simply means I have to read a lot today to catch up.

Problem with catch up reading is that I don't ever read as carefully. That was true in school too, You know. You miss a couple days assignments and all the sudden you are 183 pages behind where the professor wants you to be. So you read really fast, catch up, but you have no idea what you just read. Then you do poorly on the quizzes anyways.

That's my problem this morning. I want to take the text seriously, but I had about 10 minutes to read 8 chapters. That's a lot. Plus, the text for today was all about the ark and the tabernacles and the priestly garments. It's not exactly a grab your attention thriller.

Still, I'm back on track and there's some type of good feeling in that. I haven't failed, I've rescued my cause. I didn't let myself fall 15 chapters behind (at which point I'd probably have quit). So, I guess there is something to be said for my discipline.

The other thing I'll add before I head to work. I enjoyed our time together this weekend putting together the sermon. Thoughts that were not mine flowed out of me and I ended up with a teaching that I was proud of. And You know, that was all You, bringing thoughts to focus, giving me Scriptural metaphors, even causing some good (and unplanned) humor and discussion from the rest of Exodus. So I really want to point to You on this, thank You for meeting with me for such an extended amount of time to help teach.

Now, help me and others take this seriously. I am rising today to take part in "daily baptism." Right now I have taken time in silence and sacrifice to say, "No. I will not serve myself today." May You be with me as my next steps are, "Yes. I will follow You."