Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 "What Are You Doing?"

Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton

Wednesday, April 22^nd, 2009

Title: What Are You Doing?
Text: James 2:15-17 (NIV)

¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Have you heard of Twitter? Most people have heard of it by now. Twitter is a social networking site much like Facebook or MySpace and is certainly one that is taking the world by storm as it adds thousands of new members everyday. Now, I’ve been on Facebook for years and love it, but for some reason, all these people talking about Twitter peaked my interest and I finally decided to go and check it out.

On the homepage of the Twitter website there is a short and cute little video that gives the viewer a glimpse into the world of Twitter and what it is all about. The video was entitled “What Are You Doing?” It started off by saying that is one of the most common questions people ask one another when they communicate with each other. It is a simple question that usually gives us a chance to give a quick answer about what is going on in our lives, something we are currently involved in or passionate about. And every once in a while we may even reply with a “Nothing Much.” Well, this is the premise that Twitter uses to encourage people to become members of the community and follow the activities of others. And even give other people the opportunity to follow you and see what is taking place in your life. In some ways it is pretty cool, but in others it can bring with it some pressure. I mean, what if you aren’t doing anything? Is that what you put out there? “Excuse me world, I’m a slacker and doing absolutely nothing.”

Well, after I watched the video, the question of “What are you doing?” continued to run through my head. Over and over again I could hear it ringing in my thoughts and as I laid in the bed, trying to fall asleep, I began to examine exactly what I am doing. Now I’m not talking about what I am doing at that moment or for a living, or in the morning or next week. But what am I doing to reach the lost for Christ? What am I doing to impact this world for the Kingdom of God? What am I doing to meet the needs of those who have far less than I do? What am I doing?

I am so blessed in so many ways. I have the greatest job in the world pastoring the most amazing youth in the world. I have the opportunity and blessing to travel and share the good news of Jesus Christ with thousands of people a year. I have a beautiful and supportive Christian wife and remarkable children, who at this stage of their lives actually seem to like me and not think I’m a moron. I have great house, food in my belly, a gym membership, a car that currently runs, outstanding and true friends, an education and more. I could go on for hours about the blessings in my life. But, what am I really doing to pay back and make a real difference in the lives of others? Sure, I know I am doing things. I even know that I have been humbled by the fact that God has used a guy like me to do work for him. But is it enough? And over and over I keep coming up with the same answer. I can never do enough to fully show my gratitude and reach retirement from serving my Lord and Savior, and I never want to feel like I have done enough. And even the smallest of things that authentic Christ-Followers do to help others and spread the message of the gift of God’s grace and unconditional love is a step in the right direction and towards embracing the call on our lives.

Whether it is praying for others, providing random acts of kindness, serving at a local agency that meets the needs of others, going on a mission trip, playing BINGO at an assisted living facility, holding the door for a person who’s arms are full, putting together packs of personal supplies for area homeless or anything else that served others, it is doing something. And that is a whole lot better than doing nothing.

So what are you doing? Are you giving your all to do the things that God needs of you? Are you reaching out to the lost, meeting the needs of the less fortunate and loving your neighbor as yourself? Or are you exclaiming loud and clear to those who inquire that you are doing absolutely nothing? Well, what’s your answer?

Something to Think About:

• What are you doing? For God that is.
• Are you doing enough?
• When was the last time you really did something that you feel made a difference for the Kingdom?
• What else can you do?
• What are you passionate about? How can God use that passion to do God’s work?

A Few Minutes with God:

God, what am I doing? Am I doing enough? Probably not. How can I ever do enough? I pray that I never get to the point that I feel like I have. Help me to passionately burn for you and reach out to the lost, meet the needs of those in need, step out of my comfort zone and do something extraordinary for you and your kingdom. Thank you for using people like me to serve others. I pray for your guidance as I follow after you and do your work. I AM going to do something. Amen.