Thought for Wednesday 24 August 2022

 James 4:17 NIVUK

  

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

 

Almost all of us are guilty of sins of omission. We all know what we should be doing to further God’s Kingdom but too often we find a ‘reason’ not to do these things.

There are so many other things we would rather do so we find an excuse not to do what is pleasing to our Father in heaven. Jesus taught by example when He suffered and died for us. I’m sure there were things He would rather have done than be scourged and nailed to a wooden cross but because His Father wanted Jesus to take our sins onto Himself that is what He did.

We can excuse ourselves by saying we are afraid of what may happen when we do as we should. Was Jesus immune to this fear? Of course He wasn’t, we read about Him praying in Gethsemane.   

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  Luke 22: 43-44

It has been proved that it is possible to sweat blood but I don’t think any of us have experienced it as Jesus did the night He was betrayed by Judas.

We really have things quite easy compared to that so why do we feel the need to avoid the things we know we should be doing. We may claim to want to be more spiritual.

The deepest spiritual life is one spent doing good to others! And it’s the basis on which you’ll be judged and rewarded. ‘Then the King will…say…  “I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?” And He will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me”’ (Matthew 25:42-45 NLT).

So when you’ve a chance to do good – do it!.

When we see Jesus and call Him Lord will Jesus recognise us? Will He say, ‘I don’t know you’ or ‘well done, good and faithful servant?

 

Prayer

Lord Jesus You know us better than we know ourselves, our weaknesses and our strengths can be clearly seen by You. Help us to see what we should be doing and give us the motivation to do it. We know that obedience to God’s will is vital if we would spend eternity with You but we are not obedient if we find excuses not to do that which is right. Give us the urge to obey when we know something is God’s will for us. We put ourselves in Your hands so that You may lead us in the ways You teach. Amen