Explore or Ignore

Recently, I ordered a Christian book on Amazon by one of my favorite elder-mentor authors. To save money, I ordered a used version that was identified as “Used in Very Good Condition.” (I often tag on a book to put me over the free shipping threshold. I’d rather pay for a new read than shipping, right?)

When I received the book, it looked brand new. You can just tell when a book has never been opened and pages have never been turned.

Inside the first blank page was a handwritten note that said, “Ron, I pray the message of this book means as much to you as it has to me. Enjoy.” Well, needless to say, Ron never read it. In fact, I have to assume he either sold it to a used bookstore or donated it. Regardless, he didn’t see the need to read it, heed his friend’s inspiration, or even save it on his shelf for down the road.

Fast-forward 5 days and a friend of mine I haven’t talked to in a couple of years called me to catch up. Soon into the conversation, I said, “Hey. I’m reading a book you might like. When I told him the title, he said, “Oh, yeah, I gave you that book about 10 years ago.”

Suddenly, I realized … I was Ron. I had done the same thing, because I did not have this book on my shelf and don’t recall owning it. But I know my friend and trust his memory that he had indeed given it to me years ago. But like Ron, I had decided, likely during a busy season when I wasn’t reading as much, that I didn’t see the need to read it, heed my friend’s inspiration, or even save it on my shelf for down the road.

But, regardless, God had decided I was going to read this book at some point prior to death. Here’s the take-home …

There is an informational firehose shooting at us every day. Yet we are stewards of what we choose to consume and what we ignore. God most certainly has truth and info He wants and needs us to have for His purposes.

So, we must submit our minds to His filter of what we consume and:

Decide what is presented to us that we do not need to consume.

Decide what is in front of us we need to consume.

Decide what is not in front of us that we need to seek out and consume.

And then there are times, whether it’s a timing thing or just disobedience or procrastination, that God is going to keep putting a message under our nose until we decide to obey and take it in.

What message keeps coming at you that you need to stop?

What message is God telling you to seek out?

What message might you be ignoring that will keep appearing until you take it in?

Faithful stewardship includes what we allow to enter our minds, eyes, and ears.

Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. —Psalm 43:3 NLT