… for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. – Philippians 2:13

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 3, 2015): Philippians 2

Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who was known for his drawings of unnecessarily complex machines designed to accomplish simple tasks. And since Rube Goldberg started drawing them, people have been trying to make them. There was even a board game - Mouse Trap - that was built around the idea of creating a Rube Goldberg machine, and building a better Mouse Trap. Rube Goldberg machines often feature rolling balls down track, and elevators and levers, and in the end a bell rings or a light switches on – or some other extremely simple event is accomplished. The term Rube Goldberg has come to mean any plan that seems to be overly complex.

Even the “Big Bang Theory” has an episode where the guys are involved in building an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine. They created a program that was able to send a signal around the world and eventually turns down the stereo. And when Penny asks them why they would bother, the answer is as simple as the goal of their electronic Rube Goldberg machine – they did it because they could.

But the church might be the original Rube Goldberg machine. Consider this, what God could have accomplished through his own power, he has chosen to instead accomplish through the actions of his people – people willing to be used by him. We sometimes wonder why God does not change things on our planet, but the answer is delightfully simple – God is waiting for us, his Rube Goldberg machine. First with Israel, and then by adding the Christian Church, this world is supposed to be a better place because of our presence in it – and because God is working his plan through those who love him.

If God’s purposes are going to be accomplished on the earth, it will be because we have decided to allow God to work through us. God will never force his plan on us, but if we want this world to be all that it can be, it is time for us to allow God to work his plan through us. He is waiting for our reply. What is your answer?      

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Philippians 3