April 25, 2007

Dear Friend,

I've been building a floor for a shed. I've reached a conclusion: I sure like nails! They make my job a lot easier. Wherever I put a board, it always wants to move or slide; it refuses to stay where I put it! But then I take a little nail, and ping!--that board stays exactly where I want it. Nails are pretty useful when they are serving their purpose, holding wood together. But a few days ago I didn't like nails at all. When I was driving down the road I heard a flop-flop-flop and realized I had a flat tire. And the reason? A nail. It wasn't in a board somewhere; it was in my tire. 

When they are doing what they were designed to do, nails are very useful. Actually, nails are more than just useful. They are an absolute necessity. But when they are not doing what they were made to do, they are very dangerous. Nails sink, they corrode, they rust, they flatten tires, and they can even be a vector for disease, like a rusty nail infecting someone with tetanus bacteria.

But one thing that really draws nails--and I mean actively draws them--is a magnet. There is nothing in the nails to draw them to each other; but place a magnet anywhere near them, and they are drawn to the magnet. And, as they are drawn to the magnet, they become magnetized themselves and start drawing other nails to themselves and to the magnet. Just run a magnet over an area that has nails, and soon you'll see nails literally flying up to stick to the magnet, and little strings of nails sticking to other nails, all sticking to the magnet.

Nails make me think of humans. God is like a magnet, constantly drawing us to Him. We are attracted to God, not because of anything in us; but it's all Him drawing us, pulling us, toward Him. If you feel a desire for good, if you feel the need to reach out after God, that desire comes from Him. He put it within you! So if you ever feel like you want to get close to God, you desire a closer relationship with Him, and yet you feel tempted to draw back in despair thinking that He won't accept you, just remember that He is the one drawing you to Himself, and He is the one that puts those thoughts of longing in your heart to know Him! Take courage; if you desire God, that just shows that He hasn't given up on you yet. He's the One placing those very thoughts in your heart.

And when we are drawn to God and begin to seek Him, He gives us the magnet power to pull others along with us. Ever been around someone that just seems charged with a type of "God power"? Well, they are! And God gives them that power to encourage you and me to get close to Him, as well. Kinda neat how that works, isn't?

Well, don't put off the desire to get closer to God every single day. He needs you. He wants to fill you so that through you He can pour out a blessing to others. And in the process you'll be blessed as well! Let's get magnetized by Him today, OK? I'm praying for you!

Mark