I like Chinese food okay, but don't eat it that often...(my brain and stomach cry, "Yes!", but my arteries yell, "NO!").
The last time I ate oriental food, though, I ended the meal with a very unique fortune cookie.
Most fortune cookies' words--in my opinion--are either trite, or don't make any sense.
But, the words on the little strip of paper inside this cookie read: "The simplest answer is to act."
I was just thinkin'.........that we as Christians usually talk a good talk. And we usually listen good. We can stay awake during a sermon, and maybe say "Amen" at least once during a sermon. And we can put together a committee and beat to death some real need!
But, how readily do we ACT?
The majority of Jesus' brief three years of ministry....He was DOING! And a good part of His words to His followers required ACTION!
Several times---before Jesus met with the disciples in the Upper Room on that Passover night--the men got into several discussions concerning who was the "greatest".
But, on that night, Jesus' "simple answer".....was to act! And He acted.....by washing their feet!
In Robert Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, (*), one of the twelve Spiritual Disciplines he outlines is.....SERVICE. Jesus acted out what He expected of His followers!
Jesus demonstrated to His disciples what it meant to act and to serve others.
Earlier in His ministry (Matt. 5:14-16), Jesus told the crowds on the mountain that their "lights" (their actions) were to:
1. shine before others;
2. show good works, in order to,
3. glorify God!
In his letter to the "Jesus-Followers" in Colossae, Paul's prayer was that they "would bear fruit in every good work." (Col. 1:10 ESV)
When we ever find ourselves facing a need, or a situation (in our life, or in someone else's).......the simplest answer is to act!
Tommy
(*) HarperOne, copyright 1978
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