Thought for Wednesday, October 24 2012

October 24, 2012

To Be Or To Do – Which is Better for You

“Let us never forget that what we are is more important than what we do.”

-       Hudson Taylor

  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Philippians 2:1-7

Have you ever known someone who seemed to do all the right things, but for all the wrong reasons?

Sometimes it seems that church people have a tendency towards trying to do the right things but sometimes there reasons for doing them are not always what they should be.

For example, the dear brother or sister who wouldn’t dream of missing a Sunday service or not being in Sunday School, but they never lift a finger to reach out and touch someone’s life with the hope and message of God’s gift of love and salvation.  They attend because it is what they perceive others may expect and God’s word does instruct us to not forsake the assembling of our selves together: but it also tells us to go and make disciples.

We have probably all known a person or two who seemed to embrace a form of Godliness, while they still seemed to deny the very power of God, by not allowing His Spirit liberty and freedom to move in their lives and by trying to influence the forms and structures of worship in such a way as to stifle the very presence of God from having freedom to move among His people.

It would seem that it is more important to be sincere, genuine and real when it comes to our faith: than it is to act like we are.  There is nothing wrong with works and bearing the fruit of the spirit: and if we are being who we should be for God we will by default end up doing those things we should be doing: yet if we get all tied up in doing and we fail to be real: then our efforts are really of no effect or depth.

To be or to do – I want to be so that I can do – what about you?

Today’s Prayer

Father, I know Your word tells us to be a doer: but it also tells us to be humble, to be a servant; to be submitted and to be genuine and real: so help me to both be and do so that I can be the very best person I can be for you..

“Purify my heart

Let me be as gold

And precious silver

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Refiner’s fire

My hearts one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You my Master

Ready to do your will.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Refiner’s Fire’ by Brian Doerksen