Devotionals

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This particular summer I was invited to go to a Christian University Graduation. Most of the graduations I have gone to have been long and the speeches were ones that did not keep my interest. I was needed to be a driver and I had agreed, although I was not looking forward to it.
We arrived Friday evening before graduation. We met with the graduate and planned to have dinner. The evening was quite an experience; one I will not forget for a while. The next morning we headed to the auditorium to experience graduation.
I will have to admit the speeches were interesting and kept my attention. One of the University Officials stepped up to speak. I thought to myself, “ok here goes the long, drawn out, tune you out speech.” To my surprise he was not bad. He repeated a phrase that caught my attention. In his speech he said the university was not a holding tank but a spring board for his students. I found that to be an interesting statement; one that I pondered on for days afterwards.
I could not find a definition for holding tank, but in my mind when I think of a holding tank I think of an item that holds things for an indefinite amount of time. Spring board is defined as a launch pad in the thesaurus. When I think of a spring board I think of a swimmer using it to get ready to dive into the pool of water.
As I thought about what he said it made sense to me. A college or university is not to be a place where students go gain knowledge about a certain subject, retain that information and then just hold it in. They are to take the knowledge that they have gained, retain it and then spring into action and share their knowledge with others. We are called to do the same. In Joshua 1:8, it reminds us, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
My first thought went to the church. Is my church a holding tank or a spring board? Do the ministers share their knowledge with us just so we can hold it in or are they preparing us to be spring boards where after learning the things we are taught we go out into the world and spring into action sharing the love of Christ with others?
I gave it some serious thought, but then suddenly moved on. Yes, I could share it with my Pastor sometime, but it really didn’t hit me until later. As God often does He puts things on my mind and won’t let me forget them.
As I was thinking about how it was all about the church and universities and not about me God pointed out I needed to think about this on a more personal level. Ouch!
You see I pride myself in reading the Bible and doing devotions every morning. I study God’s word in Bible Studies, Sunday School and I listen as the Minister shares the teachings of Christ. Then the thought (which I am sure God planted in my brain) hit me: Am I a holding tank for God’s words, for the things He has taught me, do I put His words into action or am I nothing more than a holding tank that holds the knowledge in?
If we want to become Ministers, teachers, missionaries and such it is good to learn the profession. It is good to study how to be the best you can be, but if you don’t plan on diving into action what good is that knowledge doing you or anyone else?
That is where God made it personal for me. I can read the Bible, I can take all kinds of Bible Studies, I can sit and listen to thousands of sermons, and I can gain all kinds of knowledge, but if I don’t put to use what I learn what good is it? How do others benefit from my studying the Bible, praying, or learning the commandments God gave us? The question hit me really hard, “Am I a holding tank or a spring board for God’s love and commandments?’
We all need to be trained to do the work God has called us to do. We need time to study His word, learn by the examples He has shown us and we need time to retain that knowledge. We need time to get it down so that when the time comes we can bring it back to the front of our minds and use it. But, we are not to hold it in. At some point we need to climb to the diving board and walk out onto the spring board and begin to jump into the world God has called us to. In Ephesians 4 he reminds us, “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ might be built up…” What we dive into will be different for each of us, for some it may be right in your own neighborhoods, for others it might be an ocean away, or yet for others it might me a career that God has called you to. Whatever it is we need to spring into action, not because we have to, but because we love God enough to want share His love, grace, and mercy with others.
When it became personal it really hit home hard. What was I doing with the knowledge I gained each week from church, or Bible studies or devotion time? My outlook on Bible Studies, sermons, and devotional time had changed. I now study the Word, listen to sermons, and study God’s commandments with a wondering mind on how I spring into action and share what I have learned. You see I soon learned my faith is complete when I do good works. James 2:20 – 24 tells me, “ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”
Those students who received diplomas are expected to go into the world and do. I am no different. After a period of learning, experimenting, studying, and being tested I am to go into the world and spring into action.
Holding tank or spring board for me it is a no brainer thanks to a College Official who shared his message not only with his students, but those who were listening. This is one college graduation where I may not have received a diploma, yet I received a lesson I will not forget in a long time.
What are you a holding tank or a spring board? If you are a holding tank what will it take to make you climb the steps and get ready to dive off into action? If you are a spring board then I am happy to call you a fellow swimmer and may God bless us as we spring off the board and dive in!

Prayer:
Dear Lord it is not always easy for me to climb the steps and spring into action. I want to sit comfortably taking in Your word and learning. I want to know Your word, and I want to meditate on it day and night. You want that for me too, yet you ask me to go a step farther and to spring into action. I am not to be a holding tank for Your words, but a spring board. I am to dive into action taking those words with me and sharing them with others. Remind me as I study Your word, listen to Your message that it also involves action. I must retain it, but I must share it also with others. Thank you for the opportunity to go and hear this University Official share the message You gave him and thank you for allowing my ears, heart and mind to be opened to accept the message. Spring into action with me as I share Your love, grace and mercy with others. Amen!

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