I read this devotional on Crosswalk.com and found it humorous and so true.

Thump-Thud, Thump-Thud
by Max Lucado

When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it “sings,” it’s ready. If it “thuds,” it’s placed back in the oven.

The character of a person is also checked by thumping.

Been thumped lately?

Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires. You’ve-got-to-be-kidding deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat-footed. They aren’t big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor. Even as I write this, I’m being thumped. Because of interruptions, it has taken me almost two hours to write these two paragraphs. Thump. Thump. Thump.

How do I respond? Do I sing, or do I thud?

Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). There’s nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living.

If you have a tendency to thud more than you sing, take heart.

There is hope for us “thudders”:

Begin by thanking God for thumps. I don’t mean a half-hearted thank-you. I mean a rejoicing, jumping-for-joy thank-you from the bottom of your heart (James 1:2). Chances are that God is doing the thumping. And he’s doing it for your own good. So every thump is a reminder that God is molding you (Hebrews 12:5-8 ).

Learn from each thump. Face up to the fact that you are not “thump-proof.” You are going to be tested from now on. You might as well learn from the thumps—you can’t avoid them. Look upon each inconvenience as an opportunity to develop patience and persistence. Each thump will help you or hurt you, depending on how you use it.

Be aware of “thump-slump” times. Know your pressure periods. For me, Mondays are infamous for causing thump-slumps. Fridays can be just as bad. For all of us, there are times during the week when we can anticipate an unusual amount of thumping. The best way to handle thump-slump times? Head on. Bolster yourself with extra prayer, and don’t give up.

Remember no thump is disastrous. All thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying God.

This post was last modified: Fri May 02, 2008 06:50 PM by Nate.

I have to, as my duty and as I have said I would, point out to you, your use of the NIV here

I do not like Max Lucado. He is a popular author, but a very secular ecumenist, and his works reflect it.

The NIV rendition of Luke 6:45 is not complete. Does, and can it be understood to mean "nature". Yes, and no.

What is actually said, is "abundance". Abundance means "in which one delights", not "the nature" of. if you look at the preceding verses, the heart is being described in that light.

Actually an excellent example over where the NIV fails, if in fact, this is the NIV.

Lucado takes the approach in which it is appealable to the world, in which is is not easily identifiable within ones life. It is world-wisdom laced with a loose interpretation of scripture, just enough scripture and still make it palatible to non-christians.

Look at how he addresses it:

Reading the bible itself and knowing our propensities is enough to reveal our nature. Yes, afflictions are a sure-fire way to reveal our true colors, not "thumps". I must admit, I don't know if I know what a "thump" is.

Love in Christ,

Jim

There goes all my joy in sharing this. It ministered to me and I had hoped it would do the same for one of my brothers here. In all honesty, when I read the article, I saw references listed, not any specific quotes from any version. I just read the verses in the KJV and the message of the devotional does not contradict them in any way.

Luke 6:45
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
James 1:2-3
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Hebrews 12:5-8
“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

A thump is simply from the word picture of the potter molding clay. I apologize for any offense I have caused, it certainly was not my intention when I posted a devotional. If you don’t like Lucado, fine, but he’s spot on in this devotional. I'm curious how you think this truth of the Lord chastening His children would be in any way palatable to a non-believer.

This post was last modified: Fri May 02, 2008 07:55 PM by Nate.