Wednesday, 16 October, 2002

Pastor Al will be away from his computer Tuesday and Wednesday. We will be posting devotions from June of 2000 during those days.



Text: Matthew 5:33-37

Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient time, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is God's footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be "yes, Yes' or "No, No"; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

This is where the marketing people for Nike found the idea of "Just do it!" Not. And yet, there is much to be said about doing and not doing and leaving all the promises/vows out of the picture. It appears very often that it is the stuff we promise to do - and yet do not do - that creates breaks in our relationships...any and all of them. The danger in making vows is that we often don't have the power to fulfill them. Anything can happen between the time we speak and the time we needed to make those words into the deeds or the results promised. In the movie "Dead Poet's Society" the young men were taught to "seize the day" - act - just do it - now. For we will all be food for worms - gone. Jesus is again calling on his followers to "live" out of the day by acting out of God's Reign with no great promises of what is to come - but of life that is available now. A 'yes" or a 'no' - and the actions that reflect such a word.



Connection: This does not mean there must be some frantic running around to "do" so much today. Rather, simply do only that which you can. But in that, we keep a simple word. We do not heap on great expectations that often drown ourselves and others. This is probably most important for all of our relationships. Watch out for the promises we make that are merely used as an attempt to make us look good to the others - spouse, friend, work mate, children... To commit and do - no matter how little the task is seen as making a person one "of their word." It is still considered a place of character.



Blessed God of this day, move us into this day in the confidence that your love for us will indeed shape us and as we are shaped by you, our lives are graciously shared with others. Amen