Corona Devo 1983

What "ought" we be doing today?  What is our "ought" in this stage of our life?

C'mon....there's something...  Something that we "ought" to be doing...and we know it.  

What is it?  What is our "ought"?  And...are we doing it?

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.  ~James 4:17

It's been on my mind and heart to have a get-together for the students (and parents) who have involvement in our school district Christian student groups.  

I think about holding a kick-off-type gathering to encourage students within our public-school Christian ministry, and to involve their parents every year.  I think about it every year.  I even feel as if I ought to do it, but (alas), I've never done it.

But the idea came back to me again recently, and I pursued it.  I sent some invite-texts and excitedly introduced the idea to my family.  

I always have ideas, but (this time) I felt as if this idea was the Lord's.  

None of my family members asked me exactly what we would do or discuss at the gathering (if anyone showed up), and I was glad that they didn't ask, because I was not clear on that at all.  

All I knew was that our family plays a large role in managing the (public school) Christian ministries, and that we ought to gather people to connect and encourage them prior to the year kicking off.  

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.  ~James 4:17

And so I did. And you know what?  People came.  And you know what?  God came.  And you know what else?  God brought a few people of His own.  

I invited one student-leader whose phone number I had.  But later I remembered that he has a brother (who is possibly seeking purpose and validation in the wrong places), and I had wanted to follow up and invite both boys, but I never got that done.  However, God handled it.  The "uninvited" brother dropped off the "invited" brother, and upon invitation, both stayed and had a great time.  

My (one) other failed invite was for a young man that pops in and out of our weekly Christian-student meetings.  Often there, and sometimes not...his seeking heart is evident, and I know he is in the field that God says is ripe for the harvest.  

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  ~John 4:35

This young man is drawn to the Christian student ministry meetings at school, but I don't think he knows why.  I know he is searching, but I didn't have contact information for inviting him.

But guess who God brought anyway?  

Out of the backseat of another family's car climbed a son who wasn't in their family, and that does not know yet that he is in the family of God.  But he is getting closer to that knowledge and acceptance all the time.  And God made sure that (invite or not), he made it to our gathering.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.  ~James 4:17

What did we do and say at the meeting/gathering?  

I'm not quite sure, but there were brownies and chocolate chip cookies and laughs and ping pong.  And then there were Bible verses and a call to serve God by sharing His Word and Truth with others.  

“If you love me, feed my sheep.”  ~John 21:17

There was a student who shared a testimony about how these (public school-afterschool-Christian-student-led) meetings were her first steps into becoming a Believer, which she now is.  

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”  

(30) Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  

(31) The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.  ~Acts 8:29-31  

There were new friendships made, and a communal feeling of responsibility and excitement for bringing the Bible to students this school year.  Volunteers and speakers stepped forward and ministry efforts were made.

We also discussed the responsibility of serving God, and also the blessing of doing so.  

God watches over all who love Him.  ~ Psalm 145:10

I didn't know all that would come of the gathering, but I did know that I ought to hold it.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.  ~James 4:17

~~~

What "ought" we be doing today?  What is our "ought" in this stage of our life?  

God's call upon all of us is to share His hope and Truth with others, but what that specifically looks like for you and for me today is unique.  What is it?

What ought we be doing for God and His Kingdom today?

Do it.

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too... 

(13) If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. (14) Either way, Christ’s love controls us.

(18) And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. 

And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. (19) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 

(20) So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  ~2 Corinthians 5:11, 13-14, 18-20

What ought we be doing for God and His Kingdom today?

Do it, and God will take care of the rest.

Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com