Wednesday after the fourth Sunday of End Time, 11/29/00

1 Corinthians 10: 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! --NIV

In the name of the One Who wants us to be careful, amen.

On a dark road outside of a small midwestern town, several young men stand drinking beer. They are light-hearted and enjoying each other's company. One of them looks out into the field next to the road and sees the cows sleeping standing up as they always do. He points with a can of beer still in his hand. "Hey," he says, "Let's go cow tipping!" So they quietly sneak up to the unsuspecting animal, stifling snickers as they go, and push it over. They laugh as the cow begins to kick and moo. It has an obvious look of shock in its eyes.

Now a cow is a big animal; when it is awake, three or four young men are not going to be able to walk up to it and push it over. But when the cow is sleeping, when it is confident that nothing is going to bother it, they can push it over without a lot of effort.

Isn't it that way for the Christian? Aren't they much like cows in that respect? When they keep their spiritual eyes open and look for danger, they will stand firm. But if they can be lulled into a false sense of security, then they can be toppled very easily. Our Savior, Who loves us, warns us through the pen of the Apostle Paul not to think everything is safe. He wans us to be careful so that we do not fall. The warning is part of His Grace. It is something He uses to help us stand firm in the true faith. He does not want us to be caught on Judgment Day with an obvious look of shock in our eyes. Rather, He wants to see a look of joy and triumph. God bless you as you pay attention, so that you do not fall! Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the warnings that you give us. Forgive us for the times that we haven't paid attention to the dangers around us. Keep us in Your grace so that on the glorious last day we can join with the saints and angles to sing praises to You forever, amen.

copyright 2000 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org

Please note: No, I have never gone cow tipping.