Have you ever thought much about ketchup? Go to your fridge and get a bottle out if you can. What kind of bottle is it? Is it the squeeze variety? Do you remember back to the old glass bottle kind? Yeah. Squeeze bottles are much easier: you squeeze, and you get your ketchup.
Lots of adults remember the old glass bottles. You tip them upside down to get the ketchup....and wait....and wait....and wait....then you try to help things along, maybe by patting the bottle or shaking it, or getting a knife up in there to get it down....and wait some more.....and wait again....and eventually you'll get your ketchup, hopefully before your fries get cold!
Heinz actually capitalized on this phenomenon of waiting for the ketchup to come out with its advertising slogan, "Good things come to those who wait." And they do, but it's not just passive waiting. After all, if you get your ketchup bottle out of the fridge and just set it on the table and wait, you're not going to get any ketchup. You've got to at least open the bottle and turn it towards your food!
And sometimes it's the same with wanting to work for justice, or for a better world. God has given us every good thing in this world, and has equipped us with minds and spirit and skills in order to do good in this world. And God loves us the same, whether we do good things or don't. However, if we just sit around waiting hoping that good might be done, maybe not all that much good will result. Sometimes, when folks need our help, we have to do what we can, even when it's only a little bit that we can do, to make the world just a little bit better than it was. And when we each do what we can to share things like love, hope, joy, and peace in our world, then our world becomes a more, loving, hopeful, joyful, and peaceful place for all people, including us!
The scriptures for today teach us about the importance of being persistent in doing good, even when things are difficult for us. And even in those times that are difficult, we are reminded that we are not alone, because God is with us, and sends the Holy Spirit to help guide us. This helps us to follow in Jesus' footsteps as disciples, which is not always an easy task.
Scripture Readings (look them up on biblegateway.com)
Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8
The scriptures for today teach us about the importance of being persistent in doing good, even when things are difficult for us. And even in those times that are difficult, we are reminded that we are not alone, because God is with us, and sends the Holy Spirit to help guide us. This helps us to follow in Jesus' footsteps as disciples, which is not always an easy task.
Scripture Readings (look them up on biblegateway.com)
Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8
No comments:
Post a Comment