Are You on Auto-Pilot?

I have a morning routine when I arrive at my office. After getting my laptop connected and turned on and other things situated, I sit at my desk and put on my reading glasses. Not thinking and not paying attention, I placed my reading glasses over my regular glasses. (Eye roll. Chuckle.) This morning I was on auto-pilot.

Do you ever find yourself living on auto-pilot? Not really thinking, not really paying attention, you just drift through life.

That’s not the best way to live life. That is a terrible way to live a Christian life.

Offering practical advice that applies to every aspect of life, Solomon pointed to the ants that work diligently for provisions. He warned…

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest, and

poverty will come upon you like a robber;

your need, like a bandit.

—Proverbs 6:10-11 (HCSB)

The simple point is that it is wise to be alert, think ahead, plan, and prepare, like the ants.

Jesus taught His disciples to be alert and ready in numerous teachings, such as, in...

• Matthew 24 & 25
• Mark 13:33-37
• Luke 12:37-40
• Luke 21:34-36

[I did not list these passages to prove a point, but in hopes that you will actually look them up, read them, and give them a little thought. It's worth the time.]

I knew of a preacher who carried brief notes for a sermon in his billfold in case he was needed on short notice; and a song leader who carried a preselected list of songs. Both men showed forethought. They were alert to the possibilities and prepared for an uncertain situation.

Near the end of several of his letters, the Apostles Paul urged his readers to be awake, sober, and alert. Check out the following Scriptures...

• 1 Corinthians 16:13
• Ephesians 6:18
• Colossians 4:2
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6 & 8

[Likewise, I didn't list these passages to prove a point, but in hope that you will look them up and read them and give them some thought.]

The Apostle Peter urged his readers:

Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

—1 Peter 1:13

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 

—1 Peter 4:7

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

—1 Peter 5:8

There may be times in which you are just trying to get through the day. The schedule is full, life’s challenges are many, circumstances are not working out satisfactorily more than they are. You might shift into auto-pilot just to get through. Even so, God expects us to be awake, alert, sober-minded, and ready for action.

You may need to respond to spiritual danger, or respond to needs, or pray. You ought to be alert to opportunities to let your light shine.

Jesus offered:

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

—Matthew 11:28

And yet, that did not mean for us to check out and go to sleep spiritually. Finding rest in Jesus actually gives you confidence so that you can boldly live in service to the King.

If you’ve been on auto-pilot...isn’t it time you wake up? 

Be watchful. 

Be ready. 

He’s coming back!


Mark Stinnett

November 26, 2023

I Once Stepped on a Teacher

Have you ever stepped on a teacher?

I’ll admit, that is one of the strangest questions I’ve ever asked. I don’t know what kind of image that question brings to your mind, so let me clarify.

I am not thinking about stepping on your teacher’s shoes. Rather, have you ever stepped on an ant?

Again, a strange question, but it was Solomon who gave me the idea:

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise.

—Proverbs 6:6

In this simple proverb Solomon told the lazy person to observe the ways of the ant and find wisdom.

Some of Solomon’s wisdom came from pure observation.

   He stopped long enough;

      He waited long enough;

         He watched long enough;

            And he learned something.

Solomon learned many practical life lessons by observing nature around him. He even learned from the lowly ant.

Now, let’s not misunderstand. Solomon was not a pantheist, a person who believes that God is in nature and all nature IS God. Rather, we know that God is our Creator. When He created the universe, He set principles in place; we call them the laws of nature. We are able to observe patterns in nature because God set things in motion according to specific, observable patterns.

By observing the laws of nature and the patterns in nature, we can learn practical lessons.

Now, back to the ants. You can read Solomon’s observation, that is, what he learned by taking the time to watch and observe the ants. It is true and does not need your validation. Yet, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to also take the time to watch and observe the ants.

Plants and animals are used in many biblical illustrations. We can learn things by observing nature around us. Yet, there is one teaching that stands out in my mind. It is found in a familiar statement that Jesus made:

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

—Matthew 6:26

Jesus didn’t say, “I looked at that birds and noticed this….” He said to us, “Look.” I think He actually wanted us to get up and go outside and look at the birds. It is not that bird-watching makes you righteous. And yet, He did say, “Look….”

Perhaps the simple exercise of looking would teach us more than imagining or remembering.

Now, no one should think that God’s revealed word, the Bible, can be replaced by observing nature. Yet, it would appear that even God recognized that a lazy person could learn something from a lowly ant; that we all could learn something from birds.

Perhaps we should get out more.
Perhaps we should...

   stop more, 

      observe more, 

         ponder more.

Perhaps we would grow in wisdom.

I am certain that we would stand in awe of our Creator!


Mark Stinnett

April 17, 2022

Destroyer’s Brother

Destroyer.

How about that for a nickname!?

Perhaps a warrior, a wrestler or a football player would have a sense of pride in the nickname ‘Destroyer,’ but in general it would not be a flattering name. 'Destroyer' is associated with violence and pain.

Look at a photograph of the aftermath of a tornado or hurricane. Chaotic. Good things broken; beautiful things twisted, often beyond recognition; valuable things ruined or lost.

We understand that the storm is just a storm. It has no intent of its own, no vengeance of its own. However, when a person is the force behind destruction, we are angered. And why!?...Because of the senseless nature of acts of destruction.

We may ask, “What was his motive?” We may struggle to understand. Yet, our deeper desire is for justice. The destroyer deserves punishment! The destroyer must be stopped! He can no longer be allowed to threaten society!

The destroyer does not merely destroy physical things, he confuses minds, inflames emotions, interrupts and destroys lives. The destroyer is evil.

If I told you that Destroyer has a 'brother,' would you understand the personification and the play on words? Surely, you would recognize that Destroyer is given human qualities. The 'brother' is not one and the same as Destroyer, but rather, so closely related that the two are tightly bonded together having the same character. Consequently, they are very, very similar in their behavior. You might even come up with a synonym for Destroyer as a nickname for his brother.

How do you think about someone who destroys?

How do you feel about someone who destroys?

How would you deal with a person who destroys?

Capture all of those thoughts and feelings; then let me introduce you to the brother of the destroyer.

He also who is slack in his work
Is brother to him who destroys.
--Proverbs 18:9

What will you do with the new year!?

It Just Doesn't Fit

     Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
     So honor is not fitting for a fool.
     --Proverbs 26:1

The word ‘fool’ in this verse means ‘stupid’ or ‘dull.’ The root idea is associated with ‘fatness.’ Used in a negative sense it refers to the folly of a person who is inactive due to their heaviness. So, there is a connection to laziness.

We live in a society in which many folks think that everyone deserves a reward. They want to make sure no one is left out, that no one’s ego is bruised.

While that is a very kind attitude, it is completely unrealistic. It is an attitude that actually works against self-discipline, destroys a good work ethic, and diminishes the true meaning of honor. It promotes ‘foolish’ behavior; it even promotes laziness.

I didn’t make this stuff up; God said it!
   Snow and summer - No fit.
   Rain and harvest - No fit.
   Honor and a lazy fool - No fit.

Be wise.