Taking Action

I John 3:17-19, "If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. ¹⁹ Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. (NLT)

 

Today's thoughts are somewhat a follow up to some of the challenge that I shared yesterday on this blog. Once again I sensed the Spirit challenging my heart as I prayed this morning. This morning the Spirit issued to me a challenge to "take action" against the attacks and strategies of the enemy. We are a generation that is long on words, ideas, opinions, think-tanks, commissioning studies, meetings and making decisions regarding the actions that other people should take. But is it possible that we are falling short when we are asked to take actions that can and will make a difference in this world?

Many people know what they should do but they fail to act on that knowledge. I have known people who would tell you, "Preacher, I know what is wrong in my life but I am not prepared to make the right choice or decision." We are a generation that has developed our own set of excuses and we use them when we look for a reason to shirk our duties and responsibilities.

 

The Apostle John shares a stern warning with us in today's scripture passage. It appears that the people of his day and time also had their own set of excuses when it came time to take the appropriate actions. In my opinion John makes this simple point; there are times that talking is not enough. Our culture might say it this way, "It is time to put up or shut up." Our Christian lifestyle can be full of religious rhetoric and very little action. We say we can't pray yet we can talk at length about various issues in our world. We say we don't have time to attend church yet we make time to do everything else that satisfies us. We say we don't have time to read the Bible but we will DVR our favorite television program so we can view it later when it is more convenient. Or we will DVR one program while we are watching another program. We say we don't have the time or resources to bring our child to children's or youth ministry training yet we will travel all around the state to make sure they are participating in their favorite sporting event. None of these previous actions that I have mentioned are sinful UNLESS they have become our "god" (little g). Don't you think it is time that each of us realize that satan is looking for people who will choose to make the wrong decision and God (big g) is ready to work in the lives of people who will make the correct decision?

 

Once more read with me the Apostle John's closing words in this portion of his letter. They are found in verse 19, "Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God." I do not want to be embarrassed when I stand before God. I know that no one of us is perfect but we can sincerely desire to place our lives in God's hands and ask Him to lead us into the path of correct decisions.