GOOD INTENTIONS!
Sunday’s Monday
I’m sure we’ve all heard this term, the road to hell is paved with good intentions! Ever wondered exactly what the insinuation is, or do you through personal experience know the intent of the remark? I went to Wikipedia to get a better perspective on the meaning and found this, "Hell is full of good meanings, but heaven is full of good works". A different interpretation of the saying is, individuals may have the intention to undertake good actions but fail to take action. Sound familiar? It is a given, if you’re breathing in this life, it has happened or will happen to you at least once and will inevitably inflame our missed opportunities by offering some flimsy excuse to cover our thoughtlessness. Which we only offered to help us more easily justify this vague uncaring approach we have chosen to live for God.
After thinking on this subject for a while, it has become obvious as to how little thought we give before spouting off with such meaningless phrases as moral support or be positive and it will happen another is this too shall pass. Truth is, none of these have any real value unless personal action takes place. Moral support as described in Wikipedia, is a way of giving support to a person or cause, or to one side in a conflict, without making any contribution beyond the emotional or psychological value of the encouragement by supporting them and the same can be said for the other examples. Fact is, nothing changes until I do! My physical support can change everything as it cost me something to share my concern, be positive in personally joining with those who seek change, this too shall pass, more easily if we work through it together. The value is in our willingness to pay the cost of becoming physically involved. James warns of this verbal nonsense in James 2:15-16 (NLT), 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well,” but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
This has the virtue to be a real eye-opener (if we allow it) as to the depth of our love for God and His creation. Again, look at James 2:17-18 (NLT), 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” I am reminded of two major issues every time I open the bible; love, and action, fill the book from cover to cover. God loves us and sent Jesus to save us and Jesus loves us as He gave His life that we might live. LOVE AND ACTION! Where would we be today if either God or Jesus had only good intentions or gave us moral support or left us alone until it passed? Seriously! Think about these things and acknowledge beyond doubt the conclusion of your heart and then talk with Jesus!
Out of the many examples in the bible of honoring through action my favorite is found in 2 Samuel when King David said in 2 Samuel 24:24 (NLT), But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So, David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. He knew, without a personal cost, nothing has value! In today’s culture the highest price one can pay besides giving his life is personal time, for time is not limitless and it cannot be recovered once it’s squandered. In this particular verse, King David gave money, which is a replaceable commodity, but the intent is the same, action. Instead of seeking the loopholes to lessen the cost of serving God. We should consider it a privilege and stop merely offering worthless moral support. Should anyone wish to find a new way of doing things that will truly honor God, try memorizing this quote from Andy Stanley, “WHAT DOES LOVE REQUIRE OF ME?” God will show you what to do and your only requirement is to trust Him enough to take “immediate” action! It’s time to face the fact! Our personal world is not going to get any better until our thoughts, words, and actions take on the value of Christ. Our actions must relay, “I” support you, I’m positive “we” can do this or “together” this shall pass, every circumstance becomes bound with a 3 stranded cord, you, I, and God, and we accept Satan’s challenge. We must invest our time, support, and obedience, “passionately” as directed by God!
Lord, I pray we are all seeking your call to a stronger, deeper faith and trust in you. Father, I ask you now for a greater revelation of 1 John 3:18 (NLT), Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. God please, instill in each of us a stronger desire to better be your heart, arms, and legs to this hurting world. “Help us to act as your love requires of us!” Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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