December 19, 2022

A good rule of thumb when deciding about whether to do a thing or not is to ask yourself if you really want to do the thing.  If you don’t, then you will likely do it with resentment, which will backfire on you and the people around you. Sometimes, however, you are actually called by God to do something that you don’t really want to do. God’s call has an ineluctable quality about it. Then you do the thing.

But really, the same motivational principle applies. You do the thing because you want to live your life in gratitude for what God has done for you. And you know, as an added bonus, that you will feel very good having done the thing.

This is how Paul says it. “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.  You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18)

“Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For Guidance – BCP)