Morning Devotional

January 25, 2004

"License Plate Brackets" 

by Don Emmitte

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Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD. Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles! Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands. When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your principles. Please don't give up on me! (Psalm 119:1-8 NLT).  

Recently a new law in Texas has begun to be enforced. The gist of it is that any license plate bracket that covers any pertinent information that identifies the number or state of your registration is illegal.  

Most people have been informed about the law, though there are still a lot of people ignoring it. The reasoning behind the law came through the necessity of being able to correctly identify photographs taken of license plates of vehicles running through red lights. It has caused quite a stir with auto dealerships since most of the brackets we use are too big to fit the new law. It is a good law though. Anyone who ignores traffic signals is "an accident looking for a place to happen." Anyone cheating on red or stopping absentmindedly on green is a danger to himself and to others. Although a series of red lights can be a pain when you're eager to get to your destination, an accident can bring even greater pain.  

All of us have watched various intersections through the years and wondered why every busy corner didn’t have a light. It only takes witnessing one bad wreck at one of these unmarked intersections to appreciate the need!  

The same may be said in our lives. The Scriptures too have some "red lights" that should control our lives as Christians. They are the prohibitions against envy, pride, hatred, irreverence, lust, and selfishness. When the Holy Spirit alerts us to their presence, we should immediately hit the brakes. Likewise, as we move into the heavy traffic of daily living, we must quickly respond by obeying the "green" signals of kindness, humility, love, worship, and purity. God's stops and starts are designed to help us. We should be as fearful of ignoring a command of Scripture as we are of running a red light.  

Don’t wait until you have an “accident” to use caution. Stop at the dangerous intersections of life and look both ways before continuing on. It may save you a lot of trouble.