Pastor's Corner

for Sunday May 16th
Just Do It! (or not)
There was a cartoon in which little George Washington is standing with an axe in his hand. Before him lying on the ground is the famous cherry tree. He has already made his admission that he did it -- after all, he "cannot tell a lie." His father is standing there exasperated saying, "All right, so you admit it! You always admit it! The question is, when you are going to stop doing it?" We chuckle at this because it resonates with our experience. So many times we confess our sinfulness; we confess specific sins and we say we’re sorry and we feel bad, but when are we going to stop doing it? There is a time for sincere sorrow and apology and there is a time when we must stop doing it or start doing what we are supposed to be doing. That’s what Jesus’ half brother James is referring to when he said, “Remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. 23 For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”(Jms. 1:22-25) Do you want God’s blessing? Do you feel restless in your soul? Maybe it’s time to stop talking about it and just DO IT! (or stop doing it, as the case may be.)
Pastor Don