Scan!
This word can mean a lot of different things. And as each one of you read the title a different picture came to your mind as to what you thought it may mean in the context of my blog. If getting out in nature and hiking to the top of a mountain is your delight you might think of scanning the hills and valleys as you look around. Others, who reading is your greatest joy, may think of scanning a page or verse. And still others who may be medically inclined may think of getting an X-ray or other such scan. We all have different things that come to mind.
Printing
I work at a print shop and at times we have people send us things and we scan them into the computer so that we can print them off for them. They don’t have a digital copy they just have a piece of paper that they want to make more copies from. There are some that are not even the original. They want us to scan in a copy that is not very good. One particular school sends us copies of copies and the page that they have copied is not even straight on the page. Now they do know that the quality is not going to be there but they still want copies. The machine is not magical. Whatever you scan in is what you get out. Coming in digitally gets a better copy. You might say garbage in garbage out.
I scanned in a 101 page created scrapbook for a schoolteacher who teaches kindergarten. There are pictures of the kids throughout the year doing different activities. Cute kids. The teacher is putting together these little books so that each child can have a memory book of their year in kindergarten. Such a great idea. It isn’t easy to get a decent scan when some pictures are dark and some are light, some are blurry and some sharp.
So how do you make a decent scan? You have to make sure your settings are correct for the scan or some of the kids will look like little demons. It is my choice how I set the settings but it is up to the machine to do the work. Once scanned it is amazing what a little touch here and there can improve the quality of the picture.
Christians
It reminds me how the Christian walk is. We have choices to make on the “settings” that we choose. The “machine” (Jesus) can only work with the “settings” that we give Him. He will not force His “settings” on us. But when we cooperate and set the “settings” for Christ-like quality it is amazing what He can do. And our scan will come out the other side perfected for heaven. We will not recognize our perfections because as we draw closer to Christ we can see more and more “settings” that we need to change. But those around us will benefit from the beauty of Christ work in us toward perfection. The blessing is that as we cooperate with God the “garbage” that may go in will come out beautiful because God is miracle preforming, unlike my digital machine. We can say garbage in beauty out.
Settings
So the question is what are some “settings” that we need to set? Because doesn’t God do all the work? The “Machine” (Jesus) can’t do the work unless He has something to work with. I believe there are many aspects to the “settings” but I am going to just name three and you can take it from there.
1. Spend time in Prayer
The first thing in the morning, spend time in communication with your Creator. He cannot force us to communicate or to listen. This is a “setting” that we have to set. We have to choose to spend time in prayer. When we come to God then He can communicate with us and can guide us through the day. But if we have not asked Him to join us He will not intrude. And the quality of our “picture” (day) will be distorted. There will not be clearness to our day.
2. Spend time in God’s Word
We need the “setting” of reading and memorizing God’s Word so that we are fortified for the day’s trials. Can God give us a good quality day if we don’t implant His Word in our hearts? What are we going to turn to when we are tempted or a trial comes our way if we haven’t fortified ourselves? God cannot bring the Scriptures to our mind if we have not included Him in our “settings”. We have to choose to spend that time because God doesn’t force. As we choose to spend time with Him our “picture” will not be blurry, there will be more clarity to the “picture” that is being scanned for the day.
3. Choose whom you will serve.
Throughout the day we will be given opportunity to make choices. The Holy Spirit will speak to our hearts but if we don’t listen there is no forcing. We are faced with choices all the time. Every time we make a choice in cooperation with God’s will He will give us the strength to follow through and what a beautiful picture will be “scanned”. But when we are faced with a choice and we choose against God’s will He steps back. He doesn’t interfere with our choices. But the “scan” of the day doesn’t turn out so good. Every day each one of us fail in some way but praise the Lord for an advocate and we can come to Him and He freely forgives and gives us a new start.
Dear Father,
Thank You for always being there for us even though we think we don’t need You. You don’t interfere with our choices but when we fail You are right there to pick up the pieces as soon as we realize our need and we reach out to You. Thank You for Your unfailing love.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Set your “settings” to include God in your life today. It makes such a difference.
Love you all.
Do you have a testimony how, as you cooperated with God and set your day with Him, He blessed you?