Beware!

By the entrance to a country store, a stranger noticed a sign which read, “Danger! Beware Of Dog!” Upon entering through the door he observed a harmless old hound dog sleeping contentedly on the floor beside the cash register. “Is that the dog folks are supposed to beware of?”, he asked the store manager. “Yep, that’s him,” came the reply. Amused, the stranger remarked, “That certainly doesn’t look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?” “Because,” the owner responded, “before I posted the sign people kept tripping over him.” [source: bulletin clipping]

James warned…
“So whoever KNOWS the RIGHT THING TO DO and FAILS TO DO it, for him IT IS SIN.” ( James 4:17 ESV)

Though it has been advised to “let sleeping dogs lie”, we are not dogs and we are to be living active lives for good. Wrong action as well as INACTION can impact the lives of others; even causing them to stumble. James’ warning was that “not doing” can be sin as much as “wrong doing.”

To the church at Thessalonica, Paul urged…
“(6) Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you KEEP AWAY FROM ANY BROTHER WHO IS WALKING IN IDLENESS and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. (7) For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because WE WERE NOT IDLE WHEN WE WERE WITH YOU,” ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 ESV)

Walking in idleness? Isn’t that sort of an oxymoron? Christianity is to be a life of ACTION! If we are sleeping we need to wake up! ( Ephesians 5:14) If we are idle we need to prepare our minds for ACTION! ( 1 Peter 1:13) We are to be walking in righteous activity to the glory of God. Let us continue to walk wisely ( Ephesians 5:15-16), making the most the opportunities that come our way.

Have a great day OF GODLY ACTIVITY!
Carl

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