Be Responsible
An elderly
Christian complained about his church. He felt that church was boring, the
Sunday services were predictable, the congregation was indifferent, and it all
seemed irrelevant to every day living. Eventually he realized that in being so
critical of his church, he was really describing his own spiritual condition.
He began to see
that he was "dull and dreary and
dead." He admitted he was not reading the Bible seriously, nor praying
regularly, or involved in the congregation, but was waiting for someone or
something in church to awaken and motivate him. When it didn't happen, he was
critical. But as he started taking
responsibility for his own spiritual well being, he testified it affected his
hearing and sight. The preacher sounded better. The congregation looked
different. Church suddenly wasn't boring or predictable and best of all, he was
no longer so critical.
What made the difference in his life? He had to
have surgery. The surgery took a lot out of him. His body was wounded, weak and
desperate for rest. The doctors and nurses did all they could. He saw a hospital video that ended with these
words: "Your healing is up to
you." He came to see it was true. He had to get up and moving (even though he didn't at all feel like it).
He had to exercise (sometimes painfully)
his damaged muscles. He had to eat regularly and in a healthful way. He had to
fight depression. If he didn't do these things, it would impede his healing. He
made the connection to his spiritual life…No wonder he was in lousy spiritual
shape and so negative. He had to start helping himself and take responsibility
for his own spiritual development. The church and his brethren could provide an
atmosphere for growth, but it was all really up to him.
As he read a
contemporary paraphrase of the Psalms, Gospels, and Epistles, he began to
notice how active verbs stood out: encourage, support, speak, reach out, live,
grow, redeemed, restored, choose, and celebrate. Certain phrases were just
loaded with energy: work in faith, serve
in joy, commend one another, pray for one another, be grateful for others.
As positive spiritual energy flooded him, he felt better both physically and
spiritually. He testified he felt hopeful and positive and became affirming
instead of critical.
It’s so easy to
be critical; to blame others for our own problems. It is so simple to see the
problems and faults in our church. It
is much harder to recognize, admit, and take responsibility for ourselves. I
sincerely appreciate our church. I am grateful for all the support I receive
from my brothers and sisters…Ultimately, though, I am responsible for my
spiritual life, health, and growth. I pray that each of us may be responsible.
L. Urbaniak
Response – Ability
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in
them.
Someone
once interpreted the word responsibility
as our response to God’s ability.
While the illustration of craftsmanship must be explained to us,
craftsmanship was a part of the first century world's everyday life. They did
not live in an industrialized world. Everything they had and used was made by
someone. It was not an assembly line product, but the product of an individual
with a particular craft and ability.
The first century world was a world of
craftsmanship. There were no assembly lines, no mass reproduction as known in
the 20th and 21st centuries. Paul presents God as a craftsman. Christians are
the work of the Craftsman. God began by making humans good beings who were in
the image and likeness of God (Genesis
Let us be
attuned to the will of God, that we use every opportunity to do the good works
that He brings into our lives to His praise and glory!
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