Do and Be

As I prepare to preach this weekend an idea has been bouncing around in my head. This idea is "Do and Be." As Christ-followers we are called to "be", "be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16), be in the world but not of the world, "be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within you.." (1 Peter 3:15). The doing part is how we live out our faith. It is about loving our neighbor, taking care of orphans and widows, making disciples, and engaging the world.

As Christ-followers we are called to live a duel life. One life calls us to reflect on who we are, keeping a close check on our relationship with God. In Matthew 22 Jesus tells His followers that all the other laws hang on this command to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and James tells his readers to "...keep oneself from being polluted by the world." This is the "BE." It has to do with who you are.

The second life is "DO." This is the living our of our faith. James in his letter tells us to show our faith by our deeds. Going back to Matthew 22 the second part to Jesus' conversation with the Sadducees was to "love your neighbor as yourself." You see we were not meant to live in a vacuum. We are called to live in community. We have all be blessed with different gifts and talents. We need community in order for these skills to be expressed.

Our challenge is to "be" and "do." What spiritual disciplines can you practice to draw yourself closer to God? How do you love God with all that you are? How do you "Do?" What gifts and talents can you share with the community where you live? This can be within the church, but it also must flow our into the larger community. As you move through the next week thing about "being" and "doing."