I never run out of gas



Matthew 4.

1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”




This spring it’s been raining cats and dogs in the DFW area.  Yesterday morning I went to my meeting with the 6am Thursday guys at a fast food resturant.  It was showering as I drove  glancing down at my gas gauge it was below below 1/8th, but I never run out of gas.  I thought, “I will do it right after my breakfast meeting if the rain has stopped.”
I ordered my breakfast and senior coffee and moved back to our table.  We are currently reading and discussing a book by James McDonald, Act Like Men.  It was about Jesus being fired up and strong to protect people.  On page 11 there is this question,
“About what do you feel the greatest priority?  How does the Lord view that priority?”
Our group leader asked any of us to answer.  A couple of guys mentioned the priority of caring for the needs of spouses and children.  They stole the answer I wanted to give, but then I thought he will ask me next.  Let me think quickly here. So he did.
“Larry, what about you?”
“On the way here I noticed I needed gas but I put it off until the rain stopped.  I have been postponing this for several days with all this rain.  I often postpone until a convenient time something that is important.” 
I should have filled up on the way here I thought, but
I never run out of gas.
I said, “A priority would be to fill and top off my spiritual tanks, heart, soul and mind on a daily basis by reading a chapter of Jesus while doing devotional listening prayer as I read.  This is necessary for me to able to respond to resist evil thoughts that come before me.  I need to be ready to listen to my wife and kids. I should be quick to hear and slow to speak.   If they really want to hear my thoughts they will ask.  Otherwise I usually need to keep my mouth shut and for me that takes spiritual energy.”
The rain had quit.  I drove toward the Walmart forgetting about my car situation.  A couple of blocks and my car slowed down.  It can’t be that I’m out of gas. 
I don’t run out of gas.
I did a u turn.  I must have swished some gas into the line because the car picked up briefly and swung into parking lot at the back of a grocery store.  I was beginning to question my theory that I don’t run out of gas.
Just as I got into the parking lot my car stopped stone cold dead.   I called my road service.  At 7.23am I called.  At 7.25 the operator answered.  At 7.51 a text arrived that said he would arrive in 15 minutes.   At 8.07am Jesse arrived with 2 ½ gallons of gas.  I told Jesse, “Please stay to see if it fixes the problem, because, I don’t run out of gas.”
It cranked.  Now I am beginning to really question my theory. I thanked him; signed his papers and drove straight to the gas station.  My tank holds twelve gallons.  He put in 2 ½ gallons.  I put in nine and ½ gallons and the pump shut off.
I came home and began to question my theory about my car.
Larry Wishard
4.22.16

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