Something for Nothing

Jesus said apart from me you can do nothing. Our problem, is recognizing and admitting when we are doing nothing. Christianity has become the watering hole of the lukewarm. If it were not for our piddling around the church, most would find it difficult to count their lives worthy in His cause at all. The danger we face is interpreting in our lives “nothing” for something. To see something, when in actuality we are starring into a void. When the faith that is said to move mountains, can barely stir us from slumber, how are we able to continue so contently in it. This occurs mainly because we refuse to admit that our something, is in reality God’s nothing. Who can forget the echo of these words from scripture, “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David, and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers. Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yes, more, of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise, for God had provided some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.” (Hebrews 11:32-40) We must beware of Satan’s magic, it is his ability to make appear in your mind, something, that is in reality nothing. More importantly, it is his ability to allow you to live contently with it, all the days of your life!

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.