In the Good Old Summertime

Preach the word; be

instant in season, out of season...

II Timothy 4:2a

For most folks, Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. Many people have already planned summer activities that can include vacation trips, summer camps for kids, swimming lessons, family get togethers, weekend jaunts or just lazy days spent with a fishing pole in hand. It is now that we develop plans that will either take us away to another location for some summer relaxation, or where we plan our summer month shutdowns from our own home places.

When new in a church a few years ago, I spoke with a lady in casual conversation. I didn't know her so discussed the general details of her being a member of that church. I'm always interested in what area of the church someone works but this lady was blatantly honest. She let me know that she and her husband were retired and that they don't hold positions in the church or Sunday school because when they have positions, they can't go and come when they want to. How sad is that? They don't serve the Lord year round so they can go and come as they please. Perhaps there is more of an honesty in that lady than in most.

Many Christians who are Sunday school teachers, choir members, ushers, class officers, nursery workers and greeters will casually “take off” any time they want to, leaving their church responsibilities, often not even getting substitutes for their positions. Some of these folks will be away half of the summer enjoying time away while God's work suffers. If you are a member of a large church, there is even more of a danger in all of this. In a large church people figure there will be enough present to fill the gaps. How can that be even close to being a sensible thought. If most take on that mentality, there will be even more slots vacant on any given Sunday.

Let me quickly say that there's nothing wrong with a vacation. They are fun, enjoyable and relaxing but even with a vacation, people often take vacations from God. I wonder how many families make it a point to search out a church ahead of time to attend where they might worship even though they might be in place where they know no one. What a wonderful time to worship with so many distractions removed. When in a different church, totally new, you don't know who is mad at who, who the big names are, or who holds top positions. You don't have to know what teenagers are driving their parents crazy, if the staff is efficient or who in the choir can't carry a tune in a bucket. In a new place, a family can usually sit together and just take in the things of God if they want to. We are members of a small mountain church right now. We came to know this church in the beginning years of coming to this small town on vacation...year after year we worshipped in this same small church. We attended Sunday morning and evening as well as Wednesday nights. One pastor said to us on Sunday as we were leaving and shaking hands with him at the door, “You folks attend this church more than some of our members.” I would never have dreamed that one day, we would live here and be members of this church. I also never dreamed I'd be it's pianist, a Sunday school teacher and Bible study leader. This was our vacation church and am so grateful for the privilege of it now being our home church.

I also have to wonder when Christians are away from their churches so much during the summer, how many feel a responsibility to turn in their offering envelopes to the church office before leaving on their trips. Ouch...that smarts. Whether Christians are in their usual places at church or not, the work and budget of the local church just keeps on going. Most church offices will report that God's work suffers financially in a big way during summer or holiday times.

I wish we could realize that Satan never takes a vacation. He delights in every distraction he can provide and in the good old summertime, there are distractions. Satan provides wonderful activities during the summer for anyone who wants to take part in them and a lot of those activities provide for less and less clothes with more and more skin revealed. Air conditioned theaters provide refreshing comfort for people to go enjoy some of the most evil of films that include cursing that often takes God's name in vain and often contains graphic pornography. I'm shocked even more at the movies parents take their very small children to see and we wonder what's happening to the youth of our country. Keep in mind that in the summer, at swimming pools and beaches there are more pedophiles present than you can shake a stick at. The good ole summer time may be fun and relaxing but at the same time, it is more perilous than any of us can believe. Be on the alert.

It dawned on me the other day that Jesus died the day after Passover. Passover was a really big day of celebration for the Jews and in many cases, still is. The sabbath would start on that Friday evening. If anyone could have made excuses for a reason to not die when He did, it was Jesus. That makes any excuses I have for not serving Him faithfully in season and out of season pretty lame. A holiday didn't deter Jesus from what His Father had asked Him to do. He was faithful, no matter the day or season.

So what are your summer plans? I firmly believe that people who are deeply vested in the things of God nine months out of the year aren't going to forsake it all to desert Him in the good old summertime. Let's determine, no matter who goes where, that we will stay as faithful to the Lord during the summer as possible and in our own personal devotional lives as well.

IN THE SUMMERTIME

I forgot my Lord in the summertime,

Just at the time I was needed most.

I was not away, but on each Lord's day

I just failed to be at my post.

I forgot my church in the summertime,

When I lazily lay in bed,

While the faithful few had my work to do,

And I was spiritually dead.

I forgot my offering in the summertime,

When He needed it most of all,

While my cash was spent, I was pleasure bent

Just off duty for God until fall.

If my Lord should come in the summertime,

When from duty to God I'm free,

Wonder what I'll do, when my life is through,

If by chance He should forget about me!

...Anonymous

Thank you dear Jesus for Your example of faithfulness and obedience to Your and my Father. Keep me serving You faithfully, full time, year round. May I be aware of the distractions and roadblocks Satan will put in my path. I love You and want to show my love for You in my faithfulness to You and Your work. Thank You for all You do and did for me in season and out of season. Amen