It feels like I’m wearing a slot machine on my wrist! Yes, I’m talking about my new Apple Watch’s hand washing timer.
Each time you lather up, a twenty second countdown (encircled by soapy bubbles) pops up on the screen. Keep scrubbing until zero and you get a congratulatory message as sparkling bubbles sail across the screen.
I love seeing my watch’s, “You Did It,” but twenty seconds is a long time for a squirrel like me.
So sometimes I cheat.
It looks like this: I give my hands a quick soapy rinse, dry them and then keep rubbing them together until the timer hits zero. I get an “atta boy” with a bubble show and the watch is none the wiser.
My wife shakes her head. “Sweetheart, it takes you the same amount of time to do it wrong as to do it right.” 🧼🙃
It’s also like this sometimes with Jesus. I go through the motions to get His “Well done,” but it’s a half-hearted effort. Like Paul warned Timothy, I resemble those who “maintain a facade of “godliness”, while their conduct denies its validity.” (2 Timothy 3:15 – PHILLIPS NT)
But God is not a gadget so easily fooled.
The people of Isaiah’s day were “quick rinsers” who felt no shame at the disconnect between their hearts and hands. They went through the motions– fasting and humbling themselves–but God literally told His prophet to shout them down for their sins! (Isaiah 58:1-9)
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice…to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7)
It’s intriguing here that God’s, “not-so-well-done”, focuses on the people’s relationships with each other rather than with Him. Evidently, we best demonstrate the Lord’s love when we share it with those in need. And when we don’t do this, God isn’t fooled by our half-baked “holiness.”
Real Life Scenario #2: when asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus offered a two-for-one special:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, AND love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).
It’s not an “either or,” but a “both and.” No one who truly loves God neglects their neighbor (1 John 4:19-21). And just in case we want some wiggle room, like the guy who asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”, Christ’s answer is this: EVERYONE (Luke 10:25-37).
My new gadget is so smart it sometimes catches the con.
A drop down list seeks an explanation:
- I was not washing my hands.
- This was just a quick rinse.
- I already scrubbed for 20s.
The second one was my final answer. But something tells me God won’t accept, “That was just a quick spiritual rinse,” on the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Jesus – Luke 6:46
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
37 responses to “On Outsmarting a Smart Watch”
Thank you, Ann. I’m sorry it took awhile to approve your comment. It’s early in the morning here and I was still asleep. I manually approve everything now because of trolls.
I am grateful for your input. God Bless.
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Well Written and timely reminder too.
Though it can be difficult at times but, may God help us love others better. 🙏
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A great reminder that our love for others portrays our love for Jesus. My God help us love better. Thank you! 🙏
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Thanks, Deb. Yes, I admitted taking a short cut. “There are no short cuts with God.” You summed up everything I wanted to say in seven words! Blessings.
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There are no shortcuts with God! Even though you tried to fake out your watch, I’m proud of you for telling the truth when you got caught!👍
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My wife has one and It took us three days just to figure out how to get it to display the time. She did get that worked out but she likes her old watch better so now it just sits on her nightstand.
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Thanks, Pete. It’s not an idol, but it would be hard to part with my watch.
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Great comparison Dave. Yup God knows when I’m cheating on my commitments. On the other hand might put the watch on ebay and get a less smart variety that just tells the time!
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I hear you,sister Dee. Me too. Thanks for dropping in! Blessings.
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Well said, and definitely what I needed to hear today. I’m so guilty of thinking I can outsmart the One who created the “smarts” to begin with. Tsk tsk.
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Exactly! I see this phenomenon often as an elementary school music teacher. I can put on a great dance or movement activity, but the kids must have the desire to get up and do it. Trying to force them to complete the ritual is frustrating, but watching them dance when they really want to is a joy.
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“My wife shakes her head. “Sweetheart, it takes you the same amount of time to do it wrong as to do it right.”
Haha. Love it. So true!
Yet, all of us can be guilty of this kind of thing in the spiritual and in the natural.
One thing I pray is that God increases my zeal from the heart to do what is right, to please Him, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, etc.
Otherwise, it is so easy to do a ritual or routine out of duty, so we can go through the motions and cross it off on our checklist.
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Thanks, Gary. Obsessive Compulsive is more like it for me. Case and point: I just washed my hands for about half the time and then faked out my watch for the rest. Cue 🙄 eye roll from my wife.
Thanks for dropping by. God Bless
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Good analogy David. I probably need a watch that speaks pointedly and says “Hello, this is not an ADHD break”
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You’ve definitely got me thinking about that. It may show up soon. You never know!
Thanks for the compliment.
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🙂🙃
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It’s indeed humorous, and I can’t seem to stop!😳
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I’m laughing so hard at your attempt to outsmart your smartwatch 😂😂🤣😂🤣
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Thank you, Tina. I am grateful for your reading and commenting.
God Bless.
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Powerful message, David. Well done!
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I could use some more “slow cooker “ times with God as well. I have a daily quiet time, but it often does feel hurried. I’m joking here, but an addictive “GodBook” app sure would fit the bill.
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Excellent analogy David. Wonder if the creator of the “Hand Washing Timer” had any idea of the Biblical truth that this Apple Watch feature would hold. I know I am guilty of and have to be careful that I don’t just check the box with a “quick rinse” devotional time in the morning, but focus and allow the Lord to do a deep cleaning on my heart and mind.
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Thank you! God Bless.
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Definitely a good read. Both the post and the comments. Adding my “I agree” to it all.
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I’d love to read/watch a Chris Hendrix post on half baked holiness. Tag, you’re it, brother!
Thanks for your kind words. I believe you’re one of the better bloggers I follow, so it means a bunch!
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So good with so many truths here! “Half baked Holiness” is sadly what we all try to get away with at times. The rich, young ruler comes to mind. It’s easy to think of others in this scenario, but we have to look inward. It’s not just about my relationship with God. It’s how I treat others as well. Thanks for this reminder.
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Always enjoy doing so!
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It’s a good thing that God is merciful and calls us out. In His justice there is also mercy. Thanks for stopping by.
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I appreciate your feedback, brother. It’s hard to know how one’s words will land. I’m glad my post struck a good balance.
Blessings.
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Geez! Technology! That is why I have a good old fashioned watch, where the hands move around the dial, and a $15 flip phone from Walmart. I’m with you, I’ll trust God to call me out when I am doing things half-baked!
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As usual you have crafted a witty post with the right amount of humour and spiritual wisdom to create a post worth re-reading. Phrases that jumped out the page at me were “halfbaked holiness” and ” a quick spiritual rinse” both of which are very effective imagery indeed. Thank you brother for your work for Him, God bless you.
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My wife is usually right. She is my proofreading princess who sniffs out the blatantly obvious. I definitely married above myself, as many men do.
Thanks for reading and also sharing your thoughts, Betty.
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Beautiful post, David. Your posts remind me to be kind to others as well as to reflect on our instructions from above. By the way, your wife is exactly right! It does take the same amount of time! However, even if you cheat at handwashing, you are an inspiration! Thanks for your post, and enjoy your day!
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Thank you, Manu. Yes, I tend to think it’s all about my relationship with God. What does anyone else have to do with it? Well, apparently a lot! It’s impossible to love God without loving others.
I appreciate your thoughts. His best to you.
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Thank you for flipping over the coin to the other side, Jeff. God is a God of mercy AND a God of justice.
Thankfully, He does not treat us as our sins deserve.
Thanks for stopping by. Your perspective is always appreciated.
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Fortunately, God is not an all-or-nothing God. If we slip and short rinse occasionally, He’s forgiving. Not that we should play for that, but as we try to balance on the high wire of a spiritually new being in Christ and the sinful bodies we inhabit it’s good to know there’s a safety net.
Maybe being “on the wire” is what God is looking for; it means we’re trying.
Good stuff this morning!
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I really like what you pointed out in Isaiah 58, that Gods well done focuses on relationships with others and that is how we show His love to those around.
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