Making Time For the Father

Dear Friends,
This was too good not to share? as it struck me right between the eyes! Chuck Swindoll has convicted me that I need to call and conduct fewer meetings and just live out the Christian faith, just do it! Enjoy and have a blessed day!

James 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does. NIV

We Christians have too many meetings! Where did we get the idea that our goal in the family of faith should be seeing who can absorb the most information? Since when do we equate spirituality with a numb posterior?

Now, don’t jump to the conclusion that I’m questioning the value of meeting together. Some of the most helpful and meaningful times in my life have taken place in a gathering of believers. But when I review our Lord’s style of instruction, I cannot help but see how different it was from ours. He never suggested that the Twelve write anything down or repeat His words verbatim. And when He did exhort them, He used simple words, vivid illustrations, everyday examples, and easily understood applications—prompting them to action.

Words. Words. Words. We have become “too wordy” in our faith, which explains our excessive interest in meetings. When did we get the idea that more information leads to deeper consecration?

Jesus’ arch enemies, the Pharisees, were great on loud, dogmatic commands, lengthy requirements, and drawn-out demands. Oh how they loved the sound of their own words! But when it came to doing, they struck out.

James exhorts us to be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). In other words, don’t talk compassion; lend a hand. Don’t pound a pulpit about generosity; give. Just do it.
We won’t be met at the portals of heaven by some angel with a clipboard who asks, “And how many meetings did you attend in your lifetime on earth?” But while we’re on earth, there is a question we do need to answer: “Why call ye Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say?”

What do you think would happen if, instead of going to some meeting or conference, you spent that time alone with the Father?

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.