Hooked up?
Several years ago there was a school fire in Itasca, Texas, which claimed the lives of 263 children. What a horrifying tragedy!
When a new school was built, it boasted the finest sprinkler system in the world. The citizens of Itasca would never again face another tragedy like that!
Tours were conducted through the new school, showcasing the acclaimed sprinkler system. It brought comfort to parents.
fire sprinkler
Seven years later, as the school grew, it became necessary to add more rooms to the buildings. As construction workers made alterations they discovered that the state-of-the-art water sprinklers had never been connected.
That school had the absolute best at their disposal but it was never “hooked up” to the supply.
I must admit that sometimes I am like that.
As a Christian, I have the TOTAL RESOURCES of GOD Himself at my disposal.
I have the absolute solution to any problem.
I have His power to resist temptation.
I have His power to overcome bad habits.
I have grace added to abundant grace to enable me to cope with any situation.
But do I “hook up”? Or do I first try to handle things in my own way, in my own strength? (which will always fail)
I wonder how much would change if we Christians constantly and continually hooked into God‘s available power – if we truly lived as we should, to His glory?
# Dear God, I have a problem: it is ME.
# The more we depend on God, the more dependable we find Him to be.
# Life’s greatest privilege is to be a co-labourer with God.
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
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Your use of the school story to illustrate this truth is especially meaningful when we reflect that the people responsible for ‘hooking up’ the system should have been very powerfully motivated by the tragedy, yet they had not really learnt the lesson. In the same way when we experience God’s grace in desperate times we think we will never cease to depend on Him in future, yet we so quickly turn back to trying to do things in our own strength… with disastrous results. We may have a show of faith which gives us a sense of security, but without ‘hooking up’ there is no power.
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Of ourselves we are hopeless. We know it, and yet we so often try – only to be brought to a halt as we realise it is only by GOD’S power that we can do anything.
How wonderful life will be when our redemption is complete and we no longer have to battle our old nature! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
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May GOD Bless you!!! Mark
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I’m afraid I am guilty of the very sin you are describing. At times, I try to work things out on my own instead of allowing Christ to work things out through me. Like Paul said, ” The very things I would not do, that’s what I find myself doing” (my paraphrase).
Thanks for the reminder of our need to let Him handle the temptations and trials we face. May the Lord bless you.
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It amazes me that after soooooo many times of experiencing God’s help, we STILL try to handle things ourselves. We KNOW He is willing and able and waiting for us to turn to Him. We KNOW it really is the ONLY thing to do – and yet we still go our own way!
One day soon, that will no longer be the case. What a blessed hope!
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Amen and amen. How true this is!
Growing up in a Christian home, and making a profession of faith (twice due to doubts) when I was younger, I can relate to this. Everything I needed was right there at my fingertips – but I wasn’t really connected.
I believe THAT is the reason that I feel away from God and His Word for a time in my life. When I was convicted of my sin and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive me and be my Savior, I was instantly “hooked up” to Him. Oh, it’s been good ever since.
I’m thankful I’m saved… and I know it.
Blessings,
Heather Joy
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The BIG difference between this account of the school and our experience with the Lord, is that we have a loving Father who lets us KNOW when our connection is broken and He draws us back to Himself. He loves us with an everlasting love and will never let us go.
What a wonderful Saviour!
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Amen to that, my friend. Thank God.
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