All that the Lord has...
Illustration
"All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." It is easy to promise, more difficult to perform. Promises come easily when promising is the convenient and comfortable thing to do; but those promises, so easily made, are sometimes hand to keep when the going gets tough. Israel found it so, as have many others.
Somewhere in the hill country a revival meeting was in progress. In high ferver, the folks shouted and yelled and ran the aisles praising the Lord. Their testimonies, freely and often made, were protestations of profound faithfulness. At the height of it all, some of the boys in the community decided to have some fun. One painted himself bright red, put on a red t-shirt and jogging pants. His buddies then attached a forked tail in the appropriate place and provided him with a farmer's pitchfork. And, of course, they put horns on his head.
At the opportune moment, this make-believe devil made his entrance into the little church, running along the aisles and among the pews, brandishing his fork and hurlling gutteral threats in all directions. People went out all exits, including windows. Within seconds, all were gone except one little elderly woman in a wheelchair. Not yet having had quite enough fun, his satanic majesty pranced up to her, growling, "Well, what've you got to say for yourself?" What she said, in trembling tones, was this: "Please, Mr. Devil, don't hurt me; I was always kinda on your side anyway!"
Somewhere in the hill country a revival meeting was in progress. In high ferver, the folks shouted and yelled and ran the aisles praising the Lord. Their testimonies, freely and often made, were protestations of profound faithfulness. At the height of it all, some of the boys in the community decided to have some fun. One painted himself bright red, put on a red t-shirt and jogging pants. His buddies then attached a forked tail in the appropriate place and provided him with a farmer's pitchfork. And, of course, they put horns on his head.
At the opportune moment, this make-believe devil made his entrance into the little church, running along the aisles and among the pews, brandishing his fork and hurlling gutteral threats in all directions. People went out all exits, including windows. Within seconds, all were gone except one little elderly woman in a wheelchair. Not yet having had quite enough fun, his satanic majesty pranced up to her, growling, "Well, what've you got to say for yourself?" What she said, in trembling tones, was this: "Please, Mr. Devil, don't hurt me; I was always kinda on your side anyway!"
