Sounding like a broken record...

In the days when records ruled more than cassette tapes, and CDs, MP3s and iPods weren't even a thought - there were these things called records. Records were great, and many music lovers still buy "vinyl" today because they believe the music just sounds better.

The problem with records was that it was easy for records to "skip". A skip could be caused by a few things... too much dust collecting in the grooves causing the needle not to progress. That would mess with the sound. Other imes make the arm not progress across the record causing the same thing to be played over... and over.

A scratch or a blemish could also cause the record to skip. When there was a scratch, the needle might slide backwards and cause a segment of the song to be played over and over again. In other instances, if the scratch were really bad, it would skip across multiple songs.

Sometimes, reading the Bible is like listening to a scratched record. Mankind has these blemishes and flaws that  cause us to either repeat the same mistakes over and over OR try to skip to the end. Either way... the intent of having the playlist of our life gets disrupted by these scratches that we pick up along the way.

Let me see if I can demonstrate  this...

• We choose to follow God (Joshua 24:15 - But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.)
• Life gets in the way, and we forget about God (Judges 2:10 - A generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done.)
• Then, someone comes along and reminds us to serve God (2 Kings 22 - Josiah finds the law and brings the people to repentance)
•  We become comfortable with God and treat our relationship with him casually (Romans 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they didn't worship him as God or give him thanks.)

Then, I read about people who got it. People who endured being mocked and beat. People who are put in prison. People who were killed for their belief "Of whom the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:38 KJV) and I get a little anxious.

I, sometimes am afraid that if I try really hard I will fail God, That I won't have the faith required to do what he is asking of me. So, sometimes, I sit content - and not do anything at all.

Sometimes I get caught up at looking at the people that got it wrong and put myself in that lot and not looking at the ones that got it right.

Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight f where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through - all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. (Hebrews 11:1-5 - The Message)