GOD,
PRIORITIZING

ONCE I had to go to Wal-Mart to get some stuff. I wanted to be the first one there when they opened because I hate anything with “mart” in its name. If it’s a “mart,” I don’t want to be there. I got up early to hit Wal-Mart and when I got there, to my dismay, the parking lot was full. I’ve never been so irritated in my life. I got up thinking that day that I was getting a head start!

I walked inside the store and there were lines of people. I retrieved what I came there for and got in line, still a little baffled as to why the store was so congested. I shortly discovered that on this particular day, at this particular Wal-Mart, there was a storewide sale. The place was full because everybody had showed up to get their goods at reduced prices.

It dawned on me as I stood in line, that is the problem with most people today. Everyone wants to show up with God when He’s on sale. As long as He comes at reduced prices and low expectations, we’ll shop there. We’ll come to church when nothing is expected, but the moment He comes at full price, the parking lot gets empty.374

[Christian Living, Burden of; Priorities; Sacrifice]

Matt. 8:18–22; 16:24; Luke 9:57–62

I-635 is the freeway that loops around Dallas. You can circle the city on 635. It sits on the margin of the city. It’s far enough to keep you from being bogged down with downtown traffic, yet close enough to give you access to the city.

Most people have God on the loop—close enough to look respectable, far enough not to be bothered with. They don’t understand that the true God wants to be in city hall because that is where the legislation is made. He wants to be in the middle of the things that matter—not just on the outskirts.375

[Jesus Christ, Centrality of; Priorities]

Matt. 8:18–22; 16:24; Luke 9:57–62