There are days when I wake up thinking, “Good morning, God.” But there are days; I hate to admit it when I am more likely to wake up thinking, “Good God, it’s morning!”
Some days I just don’t “feel” like being a good Christian.
Now, this is a problem. The rest of the world could care less how I feel when I wake up. People are going to look at me and decide, “Is this a reflection of Jesus I see?” or “Is this a reflection of the spawn of Satan?”
A perfect example is when I get behind the wheel of my car. If I have plenty of time to get to my destination, and the freeway is flowing along, then I am pretty likely to wave and let you in when you are merging into my lane.
BUT, if I am late. If the freeway is not flowing freely. If you didn’t signal before you cut in front of me. Then I will likely offer you words of encouragement to improve your driving. If you cut in front of me and then slow down, then I will likely suggest locations for you to park your car until you learn how to drive.
I know it’s just me. I know these thoughts have never crossed your mind when you are driving.
The conversations I have are just between the other driver and me. Oh, and my passengers. And of course, God.
Here’s the point. Every day should be a “Good morning, God” kind of day. After-all, it is only by God’s grace that He gave me another day to live and to love.
Every day is an opportunity for me to reflect God’s love and grace to the world. The trouble is, I am weak and full of corruptible sin.
I Fail to Do the Good I know to Do
There are times I know the good I should do, and I fail to do it.
- I know I should be relaxed and patient when I am behind the wheel of my car.
- I know I should respond to that email request today because I promised I would.
- I know I should work on that project at work because I committed to finishing it by tomorrow.
- I know I shouldn’t listen to the gossip in the office.
- I know I should help out that homeless guy who is looking for some food.
Yes, I know the good I should do, but sometimes I just don’t do it.
Jesus’ Lessons from the Parables
Jesus frequently taught the disciples this lesson about discerning what should be done and not fail to do what we should.
In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30), there is the man who received one talent of gold with instructions to invest it until his master returned. Instead of investing the gold, the man hid it in the ground. He knew what he should do, but he failed to do it.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) a priest and a Levite purposely avoid helping a badly beaten man left at the side of the road. They knew what they should do, but they failed to do it.
In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), the rich man didn’t care about people while he was alive. Then wanted special treatment after he died. He knew what he should have done while he was alive, but he failed to do it.
There are a lot of other examples. In fact, much of Jesus’ teaching touches on this topic of knowing what we should do and fail to do it.
James’ Drives the Point Home
It is no wonder that at the beginning of his book, James admonished believers to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only” (James 1:22). Then, summarizing his instructions, he concludes saying, “Therefore, it is sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it.” (James 4:17.
These are sins of omission. Sins of omission are those that accrue to us because we fail to do something we knew we should do.
Our Christian experience is expressed every day. Not just through avoiding the obvious commission of sin but also the sins of omission.
Christians should always be doers of the Word; people who know the good to do and do it!
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you struggled at times knowing the good that needs to be done, but not doing it?
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Category: Personal Development | Character
Ron- I liked this post. Two things come to mind that I strive to do as a “doer of the word.”
When I beat someone to the door of a coffee shop, I like to surprise them by opening the door and inviting them in.
When someone is trying to get over into my lane in traffic, I slow down and wave them in.
I wasn’t always so gracious, but try to be more and more. I think these little acts of kindness are how we keep saying “good morning, God.”
Thanks John – glad you enjoyed it. I like this, “Small acts of kindness are how we say good morning, God.” So very true. Even if I wake up not feeling like it, a small act of kindness to others will often change my mood to “good morning, God!”