Just Do It!

James 4:13-17 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

This passage has popped into my mind quite a bit lately.  Specifically verse 17.   Today I decided to look up the whole passage so I could read the verse in context and get a better understanding of it's meaning.  I am always amazed and excited when God brings such applicable passages to my current situation and experiences. 

I really don't know what will happen from one month to the next, or one day to the next.  This past spring, I was fairly healthy one month (at least healthy enough to function, take care of my family, etc), and just a few weeks later I was quite literally just days away from death.  Life is fragile.  I don't know what will happen from one day to the next. It is so important to do the good things I know I should be doing right NOW!  I can't wait to teach my children about Jesus, because who knows if I'll be here 3 weeks from now, or even tomorrow.  I need to do it NOW!  I need to show my neighbor Christ's love TODAY!  The present is all the time I am assured of having.  Likewise, I need to show my husband I love him, and be a servant to him NOW, and always, because I am never assured of my next  moments with him.  Something could happen to either of us, and how horrible would it be if he or I were to be in a terrible accident and our last moments together were moments of strife instead of love?  Honestly, it makes me very emotional just contemplating it, and it makes me never want to utter a harsh word to my husband or children again. 

Earlier this morning I was reading some of my favorite blogs.  The girls of "At the Well," posted a great blog yesterday about Christian hospitality, and I was challenged in this area as well.  I find it so easy to make excuses to not have people in my home and to put it off until later.

"My house isn't big enough."

"I don't know what we'll talk about."

"I'm too busy."

"It is too hard with three little ones running around."

"I'll do it another time."

 My list of excuses could be longer I'm sure.  Again, it is one of those good things that I know I should be doing, but haven't been. 

Today is all I have to share Christ, to love my family, to forgive my enemies, to encourage fellow Christians, to comfort the hurting, and to mend broken relationships.  The ever popular Nike slogan comes to mind.  JUST DO IT!  Stop putting it off, JUST DO IT!  Stop making excuses, JUST DO IT! 

Well, I'm off to put some action to my thoughts.  I'm going to get out the cubby book and spend some time helping my little one learn his verse and use it as a time to talk about God and his love for us.