Doing

St Patrick's Day

The ways of the Lord are right. People who are right with God live the way he wants them to. But those who refuse to obey him trip and fall. ~ Hosea 14:9b (NIRV)

(Jesus said,) “Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.” ~ Matthew 7:21 (CEB)

Lord, I want to do your will. But when I try to do it, I trip and fall. Maybe I am not trying hard enough. Or could it be that I'm trying too hard? How does relying on your grace fit into doing your will? Perhaps the only way to actually obey is to trust in your grace. Grace is the walking stick we lean on so we can obey. Without it we're constantly falling. But with it, we can move about, do your will, and live the way that you want us to live. In some ways that is a relief. But in other ways it is a challenge -- a good challenge -- but still a challenge. As I go about your business today help me to remember my walking stick. Amen.