What Should We Be Doing?

As I sit here, in Martin's Supermarket, procrastinating, I am struck with the question: What should we (believers in Christ) be doing right now?

Me as an individual, should be writing my sermon for tomorrow evening, but alas I have sat and prayed, looked at books, read scripture and asked other people for ideas and still don't have much to go on. If I was at home, I should have laundry going and other chores completed. (But we all know I would be laying in bed or on the couch playing Candy Crush or reading a book.)

What should the body of Christ be doing as a whole right now and are we doing it? Well first we should probably start with Jesus' words found in Luke 10, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your mind, and with all of your soul and with all of your strength. And also love your neighbor as yourself." I think another part of the answer comes to us from Matthew 25 "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." And I think the more of the answer comes to us again from Matthew but in chapter 28, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Is this all? No, but it is a good start. I could quote dozens more passages of commandments that we should be doing. Am I doing these things as an individual? Not really very well... I don't love people easily. I am easily frustrated and angered at others and don't give a lot of grace for moments that I perceive as other people's stupidity interrupting my life. I don't give as much as I should. I don't always love God will all of my heart, soul, mind and strength... So I am struggling as an individual for sure with these things but I am working on them and growing in the grace, love, and knowledge of God each day.

But how are we doing as the body of Christ? Well... I have a hard time answering this honestly, because I do not like the answer. We fight amongst ourselves. We do not give to the poor as we should. We do not feed the hungry. We do not care for the sick unless they are our own. We stay in the safety of our own walls and never do a ton for the kingdom. Now, don't get too bent out of shape about my negativity about that. I am very lucky to be a part of a church that is doing really great and awesome stuff! And I know that there are many congregations around the world that are being the hands and feet of Christ for a lost and hurting world. I was making a point about how the world views us collectively sometimes.

Where can we go from here? I know that there is a stirring among many Christians currently. We are praying for the future, politically and spiritually right now. I know that I need to get beyond my own stuff to do the work of the gospel. I know that I need to write tomorrow's sermon and continue to grow in my love of God.