What to Do
Our Scripture for today is Galatians 6:9:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Yes, it can be hard to always do the right thing. Sometimes it takes great faith to do something that is unpopular or scary. Here is and old story from history which illustrates this.
In 1939, the Nazis were invading the Netherlands. The first people to be affected were the Jews who lived in the Netherlands. A group of Christians came to the Dutch theologian, Henry Cramer, and told him, “Our Jewish neighbors are missing from their homes.” They then asked, “What must we do?”
Cramer’s said, “I cannot tell you what to do. I can tell you who you are. If you know who you are then you will know what to do.”
Read those last words again, “If you know who you are, then you will know what to do.” With all the wars raging in our world today, these words are a challenge to some.
When faced with wrong, it sounds holy and righteous to hear one say, “I will pray to God for an answer about what I should do.” It is not always holy! When God has already told us what to do with sin. We only need to remember who we are.
In our story, the men and women who asked the question of Henry Cramer became part of the Dutch resistance movement. They helped save the lives of many. In times of stress and temptation, if you and I remember who God is and who we are, we will know what to do.
2,000 years ago, on a storm-tossed ship in the middle of the sea, Paul used that principle to make his decision. He told the freighted sailors, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” (Acts 27:23-25)
Paul said, “I know God knows me and I know who I am and whose I am.” Since he knew these things, he knew what to do. When you know those things, you too will know what to do.
~Lonnie Davis