Think n Act

Those who know me wouldn’t say that I am lazy, but would obviously agree that I am the kind of person who likes to make up really lame excuses for almost anything, just because I don’t want to get out of my comfort zone. To me, that’s just laziness from my part. It’s interesting that I’ve been watching myself and realizing how this is true.

It’s not really that I find myself lazy at work, although I am at times, or lazy in keeping up with friendships, even if I am lazy sometimes, but I am lazy in carrying out the work, the thoughts, the commands of God. Some days I really wish I’d be dumb and would be able to think and talk only about people, work and the last movie I watched. That way I wouldn’t feel guilty for thinking and not living up to what I think I know. It’s one thing to know the basics of Christian life and do ok, be a good person and go to church and read the Bible and pray and help others… but it’s a different thing to struggle with these basic things of the faith and on top, desire to know more, to do more, to live a radical life of sacrifice for Jesus. I may look like I’m doing fine walking with Jesus, but really, what my actions are and what my heart thinks are often two totally different things. I don’t want to exaggerate here, but that’s what it is to my own perspective.

It’s neat that I can think and write down my thoughts here or in a note book or talk about them with people. But I am so concerned about the practical aspect of it all. Thinking good things is totally useless in my own opinion, if I do not do these good things, if I do not put them into practice. What’s the purpose of talking about how important it is to be selfless or loving or to seek humility daily, if I don’t do anything about it? It’s neat to think good stuff and I’m sure it’s good for us, but I feel that as long as I don’t keep thinking about them all the time and write them on my hand so I can remember living up to these things in my everyday life, then it’s useless.

I’ve felt like that many times as I left church. We had heard some good stuff and were challenged to put them into practice, but the next things I am talking about with my friends is what’s for lunch, or what I here people saying around me are stuff like how’s work or if they’re coming to the BBQ on Tuesday. I mean, these things aren’t bad in themselves, but it makes me feel like we hear God’s Word and we don’t keep thinking about it as we leave the church. I sometimes felt like talking about the sermon with the people I was with and continue to be challenged, but most of the time I thought it’d be a bit odd. Doesn’t it sound horrible?! Maybe if I’d continue to think and chat with people about what we just heard would help me put it into practice. It seems like when I turn my attention to something else right away, then I forget about the sermon, the teachings, the challenges.

I hope and pray I am learning to love God and love people in tangible ways, everyday, whatever it costs me. I pray that I am not just thinking out loud, but that I’m actually living as Jesus asks me to.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me gabeleroux@yahoo.ca about it. Either to help me put in practice what I know or ask me to pray for you in that area.

BANK FOR NATIVE MISSIONARIES: 17$ / as of April 23, 2006.This month, all monies will be sent to Gospel for Asia so they can provide VBS Child Packets to children in Asia (see post of April 6). Please consider giving a buck or two and help these children and their families to know Jesus.