I DO, BUT NOT BY MYSELF

Posted by Christ the King Lutheran Church on May 31, 2010 under Uncategorized | Comments are off for this article

“I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.” I’ve heard that several times lately and I’ve even said it myself. First, as a pastor, I asked Confirmation students if they intended to live in the promises God has made to them in Jesus Christ. Then a member of the congregation asked me about my intentions for our church convention. In each case, human intentions are a small part of the equation. Seeking the help and guidance of God, trusting that it will come, is the only thing that makes such affirmations possible.

These experiences got me thinking about our intentions for a lot of other things in life, and the way we answer those questions. “Do you intend to get good grades?” “Do you intend to drive safely?” “Do you intend to be honest at work?”"Do you intend to eat in a healthful way?” “Do you intend to be faithful in your marriage?” “I do,” isn’t enough of an answer. In all of those things our good intentions need support, encouragement, direction. We need the movement of the Holy Spirit in our minds and our bodies–and in the community around us–so that we can live into those intentions.

And when our performance is less than perfect (that is, human) we also need the word of forgiveness spoken by Jesus so that we can get up and ask for God’s help and guidance again.

The good news is that we aren’t do-it-yourself projects. We are do-it-with-God projects.

Pastor Susan