11.14.07
“DOSE OR DOZE?”
Proverbs 6:6-11
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.”
What a difference one little letter can make! I do not mean the correspondence kind, but the “a” to “z” kind. I was made aware of this once again concerning Tuesday’s Daily-E-Votional. I have mentioned that I have two wonderful proof readers: Cathy Baker from the State of Florida and my wife, Joyce, from the State of Washington. It is like being caught in a cross-country examination.
When Cathy sent back her critique, she joyfully pointed out an over sight I had made in one sentence: “If you have a large meal and then begin to pray, the likelihood is that you will be more inclined to doze (DOSE) off than to pray through.” I had typed the word, “dose” instead of “doze”.
So what is wrong with one tiny letter? A world of difference. One is something you take as a prescribed measure and the other is a nodding off at an inappropriate time.
In Matthew 25, Jesus relates the parable of the Ten Virgins. As we read the words of His parable we discover that five virgins were wise and five were foolish. All ten of them “dozed off”, but only the five wise virgins had insured that they had the proper “dose” of oil for their lamps.
One of our subscribers just sent me a series of cartoons showing people bearing their crosses. The character closest began to cry out to the Lord to make his cross shorter. Evidently he could not wait, so he sawed off the bottom of his cross. This was repeated several times until his cross was noticeably shorter than the others.
The group came to a wide chasm that seemed impossible to cross. The others in the group commented: “Let’s use this as a bridge to cross.” They laid their crosses on one side and the other reached to the other side. They walked across with no problem. The man who had repeatedly sawed off the bottom of his cross discovered that his cross was too short to span the gulf. He was stranded!
Jesus Christ came into the world to become our Savior and redeemer. He has provided the one and only dose for the sickness of sin. He is the ONLY means by which we can be saved. His cross spans the terrible gulf between God and man. We find that our denial to receive His gift of eternal life will strand us on the wrong side of eternity.
Here is the question: Are we receiving the “dose” He provided or are we “dozing”? My prayer is that we will open our heart and receive the dose of salvation that cost Him so much, but is so freely given.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
- - - Pastor Cecil