If You Snooze You

Just as Keri slapped the snooze button on her alarm clock for the third time, her mom knocked on her bedroom door and hollered to see if she was awake. “It’s eight o’clock, Keri. We leave for church in half an hour.”

 

By the time Keri dragged herself into the kitchen, she was primed to whine. “Why do we have to do this? Can’t we take a few Sundays off? You and Dad should go by yourselves. You like it.” Keri thought Sunday school was okay. She just chatted with her friends while the teacher droned on. But a second hour in a church service made her bonkers. Keri’s parents weren’t amused by her organ imitation—moaning like a cow in labor—and Keri couldn’t figure out why the pastor got so worked up about everything.

 

One of these days, she told herself, I’m staying home. And I’m not going back.

 

Read Colossians 1:10

Why would anyone want to “please God in every way”?

 

Before we decide to trust God, we figure that knowing, following, and enjoying God ranks in value right up there with a stash of Happy Meal toys lost in a backyard sandbox. So instead of recognizing God as King of the universe, we rule our own lives. We’re God’s enemies, rebels against him.

 

You probably know the facts on how God figured out a way to bring us back to himself. Though we deserve to die for our sins (Romans 6:23), Christ suffered our punishment for us. He died on the cross in our place so we can be forgiven (Colossians 1:21–23).

 

Once you’re sure of those facts, you have a colossal reason to choose total devotion to Jesus. You’ve admitted, I’ve been wrong, God. I thought you weren’t worth it. I disobeyed you. I accept the gift of forgiveness and life you offer through Christ. You’ve become God’s friend. Now you can choose daily to follow God because you realize the infinite value of being tight with him. He’s rescued you and brought you into his kingdom of love. And he’s worth every bit of your life.