However, on my way home from AZ Leaders thanksgiving last night, i was reminded of a sermon that impacted me during my bible school days. I remember it was a Swedish pastor. He started the sermon with the following illustration:
"One day, a pastor of the seminary entered and started to preach to the congregation.
It was a really good and impactful sermon and the people are blessed.
On the 2nd day, the pastor returned to the class and started preaching again.
After awhile, the people noticed that it was the exact sermon he shared the day before.
Hoping that there might be a twist somewhere, they sat through the whole sermon but in the end,
it was the exact same sermon!
3rd day, the pastor came and started preaching again, the same sermon.
This time, the people were confused and frustrated.
They reasoned among themselves and was wondering if someone should go and tell the pastor that he had already preach this sermon twice and now the third time. But no one had the courage.
On the 4th day, as they hear the sermon for the 4th time, many begin to be distracted during the sermon, minds drifting away, falling asleep and some got bitter and left half way.
Knowing what was on their minds, the pastor continue preaching, the exact same sermon.
Now the week has come to an end, it was the 5th day. Some did not turn up that day, some came feeling bored and totally lost focus and some were left confused but still kept coming. And the pastor said this, "God is often found in repetition. Most of us hope that our everyday walk with God will be filled with new revelations everyday, signs and wonders, the fire, the wind, the storm... But yet, the Lord is in the still small voice. If we cannot go through the repetitions, we will be disappointed."
If we get tire of repetitions, the bible itself is repetition.. Being in church for so long, we have the danger of 'hearing that sermon before many times'; 'we know what pastor is going to share'; 'we know the revelation of that certain verse or passage already'... Like some of the people in the illustration, we start to loss focus, minds drifted away..
But let us be reminded that God is often found in repetitions. Most of the time, we encounter God not only in mega events or activities, but in the repetition of our daily routines. Our prayer time everyday is often not filled with hair standing, open visions, seeing angels moments.. but simply reading the bible and seeking the face of God daily.
Just for laugh,
Do you know your PROVIDER?
