Strong spirits: but what will you do?
It does you precisely no good to know the truth and not act on it.
Sometimes, the deepest truths are so simple to understand... and so hard to carry out…
"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine, and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundation on the rock." Jesus to his followers (Matthew 7:25)
"What good is it my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds?" the apostle James (James 2:14)
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with action and in truth." the apostle John (1 John 3:18)
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do, and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." the apostle James (James 4:17)
I hope the point is obvious. Jesus, John, James... they all say the same thing. It does you precisely no good to know the truth and not act on it. There is a word for when you know what you should do and do not do it. That word is "disobedience." Or, maybe better, "sin."
And there is a word for knowing all about Jesus, and what he taught, and never taking the time, or making the effort to act on it. That word is "fool."
Don't fall into the trap. Don't be a fool. Act on what God is telling you. And why? So you can live the abundant life he intends for you, the best life.
Be wise!
Gary Schwerin serves as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church. He is also the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.
