Thought for Today
Psalm 13:5 But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
Psalm 111:9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
Romans 3:22 . . . For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 1:30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
The most famous phrase in New England has nothing to do with tea parties, midnight horse rides or musket shots. The most famous phrase in New England is “Just do your job.” That phrase or some variation of it was purportedly the philosophy of Bill Belichick, the New England Patriot’s very successful coach for many years. It is simple, even elegant in its simplicity. Maybe it might be a good philosophy for Christians to explore and even adopt.
In my youth, I remember hearing a number of words at church which most of us no longer hear. Words like salvation, redemption and atonement. I studied those things in seminary, but I do not encounter those words or those ideas often in daily life. When was the last time you heard or read anything about salvation, redemption or atonement? As you try to remember, also consider whether or not Christians do need to hear, think about or focus on salvation, redemption or atonement. I believe we do. I believe Christians are called to live our lives with salvation, redemption and atonement as important, applicable guiding principles, and as real events which result from the transformation which occurs in us through our faith in Christ.
As I have aged, I find myself reading the Epistle of James more often. I believe this book of the New Testament does not receive the attention it deserves. At first reading, much of James seems to be at odds with the Pauline letters and much of the focus of Christianity today. I do not believe James was much focused on deep, spiritual theological philosophies. James would probably have loved Bill Belichick’s philosophy of “Do your job.” James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Jesus often railed against the scribes and Pharisees. They were obsessed with the specifics and details of the Mosaic Law and understood perfect observance to and obedience of the Law, accomplished salvation, redemption and atonement. James said, “Do your job.”
How are Christians to understand exactly what that job is? When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he replied, "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Christians are called to live lives of love, to have everything we think, say and do witness to our faith in Jesus through the love that motivates our lives.
Jesus explained how we are to do just that. Read the parable of the King in Matthew 25. That is our job. That parable encompasses food insecurity, loneliness and alienation, clothing insecurity, illness and oppression. Christians are called to combat them all. Love your neighbor as yourself.
How do we become the sort of person who will ‘do it unto the least of those who are members of Jesus’ family? How do we find the inner motivation and strength to do so? One of our ministers in Houston used to often repeat something he learned in seminary. “It is easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than it is to think your way into a new way of acting.”
There is great truth in that saying. Just do your job. If Christians just act like Christians, if we just do it unto the least of these, if we do it motivated by love of God and love of our neighbors, we will become exactly what we want to be. If we are diligent in our lives, if we persist in acting like Jesus told us to act we actually will come to love our Creator God with all we have and are. We will actually come to love our neighbors as ourselves. We just need to do our job.
We don’t need to understand any deep, complex theologies. We just need to do our job.
Stay safe, love extravagantly, trust God,
Pastor Ray