Really Important

TITLE: Really Important
DATE:  July 26, 2019
TEXT:.John 8:31-32 – ESV - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed.

In the last year or so two stories, in some respects remarkably similar, have made it into the news.

1. . The first story comes from Algansee Township in Michigan where Tyler Frye, under the influence of liquor, drove his truck into the back of an Amish buggy. The adults in the buggy were ejected and taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Their three children, aged 6, 4 and 2 were pronounced dead on the scene.
2. The second story which made it into the local news comes from St. Francois County in Missouri. A Mennonite family was on their way to pick blueberries at a nearby farm when a pickup truck slammed into their horse drawn carriage. According to the Officer-on-Duty, the truck went over the top of the buggy and destroyed it. The two parents inside were injured and rushed to the hospital, as were two of their children. Their third child was killed outright.

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Now it would be wonderful if those stories were unique.

By that I mean, wouldn’t it be great if they never happened before, and nothing like them would ever happen again. Sadly, I am afraid would only be wishful thinking. As long as we have wooden horse-drawn carriages and large metal trucks occupying the same lanes of traffic those tragic stories will continue to be repeated.

Of course, the entire problem is resolved if the Amish and their Mennonite cousins don’t take their buggies out on the road. No buggies means no buggy accidents.

So, why don’t they do it? They know those terrible, tragic stories better than we do?

They don’t do it because those buggies represent an important part of their beliefs.” No, for the Amish and the Mennonite those buggies are going to stay and be cherished.

Which got me to wondering... “Is anything in my belief system so important that I would risk the lives of my family before I would give it up?” After some serious thinking I concluded, “Indeed, there are things which are that important.
My list would include, but not be limited to....

• John 3:26 – ESV - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

• Romans 6:23   -  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Ephesians 6:23 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there are battles in this world which must be fought. Help us discern that which is important from that which is not. We especially ask this gift for our children and grandchildren who will live in a different age and a harder age for Christians than ours. This I pray in  Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to these addresses” https://www.newser.com/story/276268/driver-charged-in-wreck-that-killed-3-amish-children.html and https://www.newser.com/story/277704/mennonite-carriage-literally-destroyed-in-missouri-crash.html
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html