Music boxes look simple at the naked eye. But depending on the type of the box, inside it can range from a simple mechanism of cylinder and combs to a very complex one that can also play drums and bells. Others have a ballerina that dances (spins) when the music starts. Most of the music boxes we see today are small, but there are also music boxes as big as house furniture.

Music boxes had been popular since the 19^th century. For some, it’s not just a simple box but a collection. And there’s even a book published dedicated for the music box. Its history and its evolution. It even list 500 different makers of music box.

Life is like a music box. Some take us for granted but some value us. We differ from each other. I play a different tune in my life while you might be playing a different one. My life might be complex than others or less than some. But whatever the case might be, we give joy for some especially for the one who have created us.

The popularity of music boxes isn’t over. There are still a lot of stores selling these wonderful boxes online and offline. So every time you see or listen to a music box, let it be a reminder for you to enjoy every tune and spin of your life.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THV3RYPxi8o

Person 1: Oh, serving the Lord is tiring.

Person 2: What? You shouldn’t get tired serving the Lord!

Person 1: Really?

Have you heard this conversation before? Or have you been in this kind of conversation before. Me, I’ve heard this a lot. And just recently, I encountered this exact scenario, a servant of God saying he got tired (just tired, not quiting) due to his probably hectic schedule doing the ministry of the Lord. One of his friend said that if it is for the Lord, he shouldn’t be tired. Well, the commenter might have a pessimistic mind on that but I think that isn’t things go.

Isaiah 40:30-31 reads:

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)

I believe the verse is clear, ‘Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;’. We are human beings. We are not robots. It is natural, let me repeat – natural - for a person to get tired, whatever he is doing cause he is using muscles that require energy to work. And like any other job, once your body has reached it’s peak on the “tiredness meter”, your brain will send out signals to your whole body to rest. If you don’t, then you’re either a super human being or you’re deceiving yourself. I remember Ptr. Rick Warren on one of his Purpose Driven Church Seminar (watched it on CD) when he said, “Mary had a little lamb, it would have been a sheep, it joined a local church and died in lack of sleep.”

Let us be honest and real. We do get tired while we are serving the Lord. However, it doesn’t end there. God made a promise. That even though you’ll get tired (verse 30), if your hope is in the Lord, he will renew your strength (verse 31). Take note the on the last two lines it said “not grow weary” and “not be faint”. Isn’t this the one that says we shouldn’t be tired when serving the Lord? I believe this only means that God will give us unlimited renewal of strength. That every time we feel weak, God will refuel us. That every time we feel tired, God will strengthen us.

Let us confess that we are only human. We do get tired. But we have a God, that’s always willing to strengthen us.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

- Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

God bless.

Image: Jeff Ratcliff / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

⁵Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’

⁷“Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

⁹“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:5-13 (NIV)

There were two things we can see on this passage.

Importunity

When defined, “Unreasonableness; an unsuitable or inappropriate time; A constant and insistent demanding”. This was the word used on the King James Version on verse 8. It wasn’t actually the friendship that pushed the man to get up and give his friend bread, but rather the friend’s ‘continual asking’ for bread. When he was turned down, he didn’t lose hope and he continued to knock on the door. We don’t know how long he knocked, but for sure he knocked and asked until his friend gave in, probably realizing how this man is in deep need. Take note, it wasn’t the friendship that was considered here, it was the asker’s continuous asking.

Father and Child

Verses 11 – 13 shows a relationship of a father and a child when it comes to asking. For parents out there, you’ll definitely know what this passage says. I know you’ll agree with me that sometimes, even though we had said no to our child about something that he asks, we do sometimes give in to what they ask. How much more if they were asking for something that isn’t bad. And we definitely want the best for our children.

Putting it all together

Knock, not just a single knock, but a continuous knock. Don’t just pray once, pray continuously. When we ask for something from God, and we weren’t able to get an answer right away, don’t stop, continue asking. Knock until the door is opened for you for he promised that he will open the door for us (verse 9b).

Do we even bother to knock, ask or seek? Many Christians now says “God already knows what I need”. Yes, that’s true, but he also said that we should ask for it. This is our act of faith to him. And like a father to his child, he will definitely listen to us. And we also forget that he is a “Father” to us, a Father who wants the best for his children. When we pray, pray to the “Father”, and like a child, be importunate, and be consistent. Don’t be discouraged easily. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.

God bless.