My Wasteful Speed
Radars
By Lexi Ellis
Let love be genuine.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly
affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)
There once was a portable speed radar placed
right in front of a stop sign. As car after car approached, the device kept
blinking zero. While amusing, it seemed a complete waste and misuse of
resources. It wasn’t needed and it wasn’t doing the job it was designed to do -
- to slow speeding people down.
I realized there are many things in my life
like that could be wasteful speed radars sitting next to a stop sign. First,
what do I worry and dwell on - - spend all my time and energy and resources on
- - that are really a complete waste? What anxieties actually prevent me from
doing the job I was designed to do - - to proclaim the saving grace of my
Savior, and love others like He loved. These things I spend so much time and
energy on…could they potentially be used in a better way?
Secondly, often my attitudes and actions are
like speed radars. The way I think and act turn into missed opportunities to be
like Christ. Just like the speed radar should have been placed elsewhere to be
effective, my attitudes and actions are often misplaced. Is the tone I use with
a student a wasteful speed radar or helpful and compassionate? Is the attitude
I have towards my husband a wasteful speed radar or respectful and “partnering”?
Are my actions towards my family and friends a wasteful speed radar, or
uplifting and supportive?
Finally, when we enter into a relationship
with Him, we are equipped by the Holy Spirit; we are given an incredible
resource…God in us! And we’ve been given His timeless Word, a way He
communicates to us. Yet, so often I do not yield to His guiding and allow His
Word and His Spirit to work through me. These incredible resources end up like
that wasteful portable speed radar in front of the stop sign if I don’t use
them!
I realized there are many wasteful speed
radars: my worries, actions and attitudes; my ignoring of God’s Spirit and
Word. And yet, we serve a forgiving and compassionate God who desires our
acknowledgement of our wasteful speed radars coupled with our repentance. While
I see I have a whole lot to work on, I have a big God to work in me. I am
thankful for the reminder that I need to be constantly working on adjusting my
misplaced and wasteful speed radars.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What are your wasteful speed radars - - 1.
worries, 2. actions or attitudes or 3. ignoring God’s Spirit or Word?
GOING FARTHER:
Lexi is married to
Andrew and has a puppy named Calvin. She teaches sixth grade. She serves with
Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
