Monthly Archives: June 2009

Commitment Contradiction Part I

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“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”1

Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t worry about being politically correct? Today’s politically “correct” society has all sorts of fancy watered down names for sin. We call a lie a fib (or “I misspoke”), adultery an affair, abortion a viable means of birth control, homosexuality an alternate lifestyle, etc., etc. But God doesn’t beat around the bush. Sin is sin is sin. To call poison by any other name would be deadly. To call sin by any other name is also deadly. If we do what we know is wrong, we sin. And if we know to do good, and don’t do it, we sin.

While I would disagree with a Buddhist monk on many issues, I totally agree with his statement when he said, “To know and not to do is not yet to know.”

To translate that into our Christian terminology it could be: “To believe and not to act is not yet to believe because I only truly believe that which motivates me to action.” Thus the Buddhist monk was right on when he said, “To know and not to do is not yet to know.”

If I say I am a follower of Christ and don’t do anything to help the poor, feed the hungry, care for the downtrodden in my community and in other parts of the world, nor support missions and those spreading the gospel, then I am not a follower of Jesus regardless of what I say I am. What I say is meaningless unless it is backed by my actions.

Every one of us can do something to be “as Christ” to somebody. Even if we are bedridden, we can still communicate Christ’s love to those who are ministering to us through a grateful and loving spirit, and we can pray for these nurses and doctors, and for those who are on the front line of action for Christ.

Thus, to know and not to do is not yet to know; or to believe and not to act is not yet to believe, for I only truly believe that which motivates me to action.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a ‘doer’ of your word and not just a ‘talker.’ And please help me always to be faithful in being ‘as Christ’ to every life I touch, ministering to people at their point of need and then communicating your love and the gospel message with those who are lost and need the Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. James 4:17 (NIV).

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The Gift of Encouragement

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“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”1

As a boy he worked long hours in a factory in Naples. He longed to be a singer, and when he was only ten years old, he had his first voice lesson. “You can’t sing. You haven’t any voice at all. Your voice sounds like the wind in the shutters,” his teacher said.

The boy’s mother, however, disagreed. She believed that he had a talent to sing. Though very poor, putting her arms around him, she said, “My boy, I am going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons.”

Her confidence in him and constant encouragement paid off. That boy became one of the world’s greatest singers—Enrico Caruso!

We all need encouragement! We all—including, and especially our children—need someone to believe in us.

As the Bible also teaches, “Encourage one another daily.”2 Note that it says daily! So let’s be sure to encourage someone today—and every day for the rest of our lives.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for all the people who, over the years, believed in and encouraged me to achieve something worthwhile with my life. Help me also to be an encourager to all the people you bring into my life—and especially to my loved ones. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV).

2. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV).

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Making Your Life Count

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“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”1

You may have read about the thirty-eight-year-old scrubwoman who would go to the movies and sigh, “If only I had her looks.” She would listen to a singer and moan, “If only I had her voice.”

Then one day someone gave her a copy of the book, The Magic of Believing. She stopped comparing herself with actresses and singers. She stopped crying about what she didn’t have and started concentrating on what she did have. She took inventory of herself and remembered that in high school she had a reputation for being the funniest girl around. She began to turn her liabilities into assets. When she was at the top of her career, Phyllis Diller made over $1 million a year. She wasn’t good-looking and she had a scratchy voice, but she could make people laugh.2

Everybody is good at something … even the person who said he was a good example of what not to do!

Seriously, what is it you like to do best? Even if it is only one talent, start putting it to good use today—right now. And then get the training you need to sharpen that talent and ask God how you can use it to serve him and help others so you can make your life count for something worthwhile.

Don’t wait for opportunities to fall into your lap—they may or may not come. Make your own opportunities. If you find a need, meet it. If you find a hurt, heal it.

With God’s help you, too, can make your life count for something truly worthwhile for time and eternity.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, again today I commit and trust my life and way to you. What can I do for you today? I’m available; please use me to help a wounded soul along the way, to bring a smile to a saddened heart, to give comfort to a lonely child, encouragement to a struggling teen, a sandwich to a hungry man. Whatever it is, please use me today to be ‘as Christ’ to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV).
2. Rick Warren, Making Your Life Count for Eternity.

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