the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Daily Devotionals
Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
The long running sitcom "Cheers" spawned a number of characters which every regular viewer seemed to recognize from their own experience. That is what made "Cheers" so successful. Like the resident know-it-all, mailman Cliff Claven. People tuned in each week just to hear what mishmash Cliffy would come up with that would begin as an intelligent sounding remark and digress to the ridiculous.
One day as the regular barflys were discussing music, Cliff threw in, "I wonder if you know that the harp is a predecessor of the modern day guitar. Early minstrels were much larger people. In fact, they hands the size of small dogs." Or, for that matter, the day he made the comment concerning women. "Ah, just like all women. If they're not turnin' down your proposal of marriage, they're accusing you of suspicious behavior in the lingerie changing room."
As a result of Cliff's various postulations he became a cartoon of himself to his friends who tolerated him because they knew the decent human being he was in spite of his comment-on-everything disposition. He desperately wanted to be appreciated and liked and intelligent. One of his own comments revealed his nature when he remarked, "A Freudian slip is when you say one thing when you're really thinking about a mother." Cliff tried so hard to "fit in".
Fitting in is always a difficult process; and a dangerous one. It can often lead to conformity, or friendship, with the world. "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4 Not exactly the desired result of a life being lived with eternity in mind. We are not the ones who need to fit in, but the ones who establish the standard in Christ Jesus.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2 By doing this we put ourselves in line for a lot of ridicule and the accusation of being a know-it-all for God. But I guarantee you that when the chips are down, you will be the one people come to for help in knowing God's will. Cheers.
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' Copyright 2010 © Tom Kelley. 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with their complete bio and a link to https://www.studylight.org/ 2) 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.
