A Stumbler's Walk | DO...

...you have put off the old self... and have put on the new self

-- Colossians 3:9-10

I wear a simple chain around my neck with a simple little pendant. On it is inscribed one simple - and powerful - word:

 DO

You see, I can tend toward dreaming. In some areas of life I tend to ponder, to visualize, to analyze - and to be stagnant. There is nothing wrong with dreaming. It is a good thing. But dreams without action are frustrating, and ultimately, sadly futile. 

DO... Sometimes we just need to move, to put ourselves into action. A chain and pendant can be a reminder, but in the end it is only cheap jewelry. I must do... 

In our faith we often wait for a feeling. Or we wait until we know enough. Or we wait until we have our questions answered. Here is an epiphany: We will never have all our questions answered. We will never know everything we want to know. 

The fact is, when we simply act upon what we do know - when we put into practice the little faith we possess - we change. We are impacted by the reality of God's kingdom and presence. And we become instruments of compassionate impact in Christ's hand. 

Paul writes that we are to put off the old, and put on the new. He doesn't say we will suddenly feel like it on day 185 of our yearly devotional. He doesn't promise a break in the clouds of doubt that reveals perfect clarity in our understanding. He simply says... DO. 

To be perfectly accurate to the text, Paul tells us this putting off/on is actually DONE (already). When we were redeemed by Christ he made us new. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation.

The old HAS passed away; behold, the new HAS come. 

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our job is simply to DO according to who we already are - who we have been (re)made to be by Christ. When you really think about it, for a redeemed person to NOT DO according to the new self is actually the anomaly. To NOT DO is to live hypocritically. Stagnant faith is underselling... it is under-living who we are!

We were created for so much more than we experience. We have been redeemed to experience love, community and purpose beyond our wildest dreams.

We simply need to DO...

God, my prayer is simple, but not easy; it is not complex, but it is a struggle. Help me to DO.

For now...

D