I am confused.
In our town—perhaps yours as well—we see lots of signs encouraging us to “stay safe—stay home.” Point taken. COVID-19 continues to threaten and kill.
Yet our town also features signs that say, “Businesses are open. Shop local.”
Hmm….what are we really saying? "Stay home unless you have dough to spend, and unless you intend to spend that dough locally?" Or maybe the intended message is "Spend your money here first—THEN stay home. To me, it's a mixed message.
Sure, I get the fact that everybody needs milk and eggs and toilet paper. Which means there is a point at which we do have to leave home. And we do have a choice in where we shop. Still, it just feels like a mixed message.
But as I was contemplating this curiosity (unintentionally pointing the finger at our civic leaders), God reminded me four fingers were pointing back at me. Am I not equally guilty of sending mixed messages?
Early in the morning, I ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Yet an hour or two later, I am so often so filled with myself, Jesus can't even get in the throne room of my heart, let alone find a place on the throne. Mixed Message.
I talk about the importance of a daily quiet time with God, but allow—even create—so much noise (activity) in my life, it all but drowns out the possibility for quiet. Even if I do squeeze in the formality of a few minutes with Him. Mixed message.
I encourage others to share their faith with unsaved friends and neighbors. Yet my own heart can be virtually unmoved by the ticket to Hell that seems almost visible in the hands of so many I know. Mixed Message.
I could go on. But looking in my "soul mirror" is painful. The antidote? Psalm 86:11, a prayer of David:
Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.