Hit Him Again! Lessons Learned – by Jay Sikes

Saturday Morning Devotional

Hit Him Again! Lessons Learned

Do you ever feel like you just need to maybe pop yourself upside the head to knock some sense into yourself?  I have to admit I feel like I should be doing that a lot less as I’ve gotten a little older.  Unfortunately, I continue to feel this way.  A good pop upside the head just might do me some good.  Thinking about this brings to my mind the old sermon joke, “Hit him again.”  The only thing is, “him” is me!

Hit Him Again!

The crumbling, old church building needed remodeling, so the preacher made an impassioned appeal, looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the message, the rich man stood up and announced, “Pastor, I will contribute $1,000.” Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood again and shouted, “Pastor, I will increase my donation to $5,000.” Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, “Pastor, I will double my last pledge.” He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell hitting him on the head. He stood once more and hollered, “Pastor, I will give $20,000!” This prompted a deacon to shout, “Hit him again, Lord! Hit him again!” 

Hit Him Again Situations

I recently had an experience that, I hope, has given me a new direction.  Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever learn and I am pretty sure most of us feel this way at one time or another.  In this particular experience, I took an attitude which I have often taken before.  I knew there was some risk as to the action I was about to take.  Rather than do something different, my attitude was, I’ll take the risk and deal with it when and if it goes bad.  Well, it went bad and I almost messed up in the process.  Had I not stopped when I did, it would have been bad.  

Even though I did stop, it was a delicate situation to get out of without still doing damage.  Afterwards, I thought to myself, “What was I thinking?” “Why would I risk taking a chance on causing myself trouble, don’t I know I already have more than I can get done without adding more to my plate?”  Hit him again!  

No Risk Situations

On the flip side, I had a simple option that was no risk and fail safe.  So, my new direction that I hope to have learned and will follow through on achieving is “no risk.”  In other words, if there is risk involved, I’ll take another option unless there isn’t one.  

Many times in my life I have stated “Will I ever learn?”  Am I insane?  The definition of insane has been said to be doing the same thing and expecting different results! 

This recent experience hopes to bring me the answer, “Yes, I have learned” finally!  Since this discovery, I’ve already said no to risks several times.  It’s been awesome, yet I know me, and if I don’t work to make it a habit, well, “Hit him again!”

Related Scriptures

I believe Paul probably had a good idea about this.  We see this in his letter to the Romans.  I can relate so well.

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
Romans 7:15

Paul also gives us the answer to avoid “Hit him again!”

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Romans 7:24-25a

It is Jesus that will rescue us from those risky decisions.  Paul also tells us it is Jesus who rescues us in 1 Corinthians.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
I Cor. 10:13

But “when you are tempted,” The “Way” to stand up under it is Jesus.  Even Jesus tells us that Himself.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Our choice is risky decisions that result in “Hit him again,” or no risk decisions that offer peace and don’t add more to our plate.  Although it’s a no brainer, in the busy lives we live, we are too quick to take the riskier option.

Hit Him Again Examples

Perhaps you are drawing a blank as to what some examples are that can result in “Hit him again?”

• Overscheduling
• Performing a 2 person job by yourself
• Overdoing in the summer heat
• Taking risk while driving
• Saying something you may regret
• Making snap decisions
• Purchasing something that the price or item “is too good to be true”
• Staying up later than you know you should 

I’m sure you are wondering what I Googled to get these examples.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have to Google.  These are all my own “hit him again” decisions, and this is just a few of them!  I’m sure you’re also thinking, “Will he ever learn, or is he insane?” 

Needed Risks

Now to be fair, there are times we need to take risks that could result in an adverse reaction.  However, we must be willing to take these risks.  Here are a few examples.

• Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Apologizing even when it may be hard
• Showing love and compassion
• Putting others first
• Doing without for the benefit of someone in need
• Sharing our greatest commodity – our time

Sometimes these potentially risky acts can result in “Hit him again”… or do they?  It may sometimes appear like these risky acts result in rejection or ridicule.  However, somehow these actions are really a blessing according to Jesus.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38

When it comes down to it, there will always be risky “Hit him again” things we need to avoid.  However, there will always be risky things we need to choose to do for the betterment of others.  May we seek the “Way” to help us learn which is which.

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Have a Grace & Joy-Filled day!

Susan

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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19