My schedule this year only allow me to be able to attend one high school musical and that was Sister Act at Kaukauna High School. Great job to many of our youth who acted and sung and to many parents who helped out behind the scenes! It took me back to my high school days of participating in musicals by acting, dancing and singing.
However, the kind of acting I’m talking about is not about musicals. It’s about faithful action.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount,
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise person who built their house on the rock.” Matt 7:24
I have been enjoying dwelling in God’s word as I share in the devotion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings, shared by Charles Ringma in the devotional “Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”
Today’s devo (Nov 14) was about faith opportunities and/or missed opportunities. It goes something like this. The area we fail most significantly is not in our wrongdoing, but in those areas where we fail to grasp the nettle, fail to take hold of the opportunity, fail to act decisively when we must, fail to take the next step that will lead us on a new journey, and faith to take the risk that leads to new territory. What is so wrong? The preference of safety to risk, and security to the walk of faith.
Sin can be forgiven. But when we fail to act, which may seem harmless, has a more subtle yet harmful and compounding effect. I recently read an article that had this interesting perspective from the Pew Research Center. Research has shown that spirituality and faith are no longer number one in people’s lives – 1) family, 2) career, and 3) money come before the priority of God. I recall Packers coach Vince Lombardi sharing that his priorities were 1) Faith, 2) Family, and 3) Football. He was a very intense and busy person, but starting his day off with God was most important. The first of the 10 Commandments reminds us “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) Individually and collectively our faith response to God gives meaning, purpose, identity, and community. When we don’t act or replace the importance of God in our lives with other things taking priority, we will see the subtle eroding of our acting until we don’t act at all.
Together let’s act on our faith and the opportunities God gives us to let God’s love come to life.
Christ’s blessings and peace throughout your week,
Pastor Nate
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