28 Feb “Am I a Habit or Do You Really Love Me?”

Courtesy of http://goodtimes.wikia.com/wiki/Good_Times_Wiki

This morning as I got ready for my day – I turned to the old 70’s show “Good Times”. This show, while dated, always seems to have a moral that is still needed in today’s society. In this episode, the mother, Florida, has become so overwhelmed by the cares of life. The cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids, even having breakfast prepared for her husband, James, when he wakes up. All of this before she even goes to her own job. Making her feel inadequate and frankly taken advantage of.

As the show progresses we find Florida having lunch with her boss who wines and dines her and treats her, as Florida puts it, like a Lady. Well, as with any great show the ultimate happens. James finds out that this other man has been treating his woman to lunch and flowers and so forth. Boy was he angry, how dare someone try to “cozy up” to his wife. But as Florida quickly explains, there is nothing going on between the two, but she does like the way he makes her feel.

“Like a Woman” -Like she matters.

Florida asks this important question,

“When was the last time you made me feel Like a Woman.”

James replies like most typical men

“Just the other night”.

“No not like that – I mean make me feel like you cared.” replied Florida. ” I want to know, “

“Am I a Habit or Do You Really Love Me?”

For lots of us the ritual of going to church, praying, reading the Bible, etc. has become a habit. Our obedience to these ordinances are robotic and impersonal at best. Have you been going through the motions without any thought to the relationship you are building with God. I had a conversation with a good friend of mine, and we discussed the mercy of God, and how we are not even worthy of that mercy. A understanding not shared by many. In fact, when posted on Twitter he received a few posts asking why do you not feel worthy of mercy?

It is not a self depreciating comment, but more of an understanding that God’s mercy is not a right. It is not something we merit. More importantly when we get to a point that we think that God’s mercy is just something we are supposed to get regardless. We have made God a Habit and are now taken advantage of the relationship. At any time, we forget the blessings and mercy of God are because he love us and not that we are that great. We are acting out of Habit not Love.
God is Asking You -

Am I a Habit or Do You Really Love Me?
J. Richard Byrd