August 16, 2026 Devo

Some years ago, I was in Pennsylvania with some friends, and we went to my favorite pizza place. While we were sitting there enjoying pizza as only the Italians in PA can make it, a young teenage boy walked in with a really cute young lady. They sat down at a table facing each other. The waitress took their order and left them alone. Now I confess that it’s been a long time since I dated, but what happened next made no sense to me. This goofball of a boy proceeded to pull out his phone, bury his face in the screen, and completely ignore his date. She sat there politely, speaking to him from time to time, but he hardly even looked up.
Whoever he was texting, whatever he was looking at, or whatever game he was playing, it was obviously of more interest to him than this gorgeous young lady who was with him. I just kept thinking to myself, “Dude, you are an IDIOT! You’re sitting there with a girl who is about five levels out of your league, and you are BLOWING IT!!” I felt sorry for the girl. Actually, I also felt sorry for the boy. He won’t realize how awesome she is until she’s gone. That’s really sad.
I thought of that scene as I read our verse for today. What that young man did is what most of us do every single Sunday. We get to sit in the presence of the Beautiful One. The One whose very name is Awesome. He is Creator and Redeemer. He is the Glorious One. He is The One that EVERYONE is looking for. Yet, we mostly ignore Him. Our faces are buried in our phones. Or we’re staring at what someone is wearing. Or we’re thinking about what we’re doing after church or later this week. Or we’re paying attention to everyone in the room EXCEPT Him.
The funny thing is we don’t even deserve to be there with Him! He’s way more than five levels above us. He’s Perfect. We’re flawed. He’s Wonderful. We’re weak and whiny. He is Selfless and Loyal and Totally Committed, and we’re self-centered and self-seeking and totally self-consumed. O people, LOOK at Him! He is ALL that you are looking for. He is Life and Love and Fulfillment. Stare into His Face. Experience His Grace. Catch a glimpse of His Glory. Look into His Eyes and see how desperately and passionately He loves you. Let all that He is and all He has done for you overwhelm you and cause you to tremble with awe. Let the fullness of His holy splendor take your breath away. Do something this Sunday that maybe you haven’t done in a really long time. WORSHIP Him. Don’t be a goofball. Don’t wait until you drift away from Him and He’s a faint memory in your life. He’s The Catch of a lifetime. That’s God’s Word for you today.