Pastor Weekly - 1/21/26
Hello ICC Family!
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:17
Yesterday at our Crowfield Bible Club study we finished James chapter 4 with this verse. The first time I was challenged by this verse was in college. Like it is for most students away from home for the first time, every day was a test. Nobody made me get up to go to class or work. There was no one to hold me accountable to live according to the values and morals that I grew up with and personally held to. The decision was mine alone. Leaving home for the first time and facing the decision of how to live is a trying time in life - whether one attends college or not. Young people are faced with the question - What do you really believe? Unfortunately, studies show that more than 50% of young people leave the faith fairly soon after leaving their childhood home. When confronted with the opportunity to live like the world in sin, the temptation is too overwhelming.
This verse, however, is talking about a different kind of sin. One that continues to tempt Christians even after they have made a commitment to their faith by resisting the devil and fleeing temptation. These are sometimes called sins of omission. You see, sin is not just giving into the temptations to do something that God has forbidden. Sin also includes the things that we know through his Word are right to do, and that God through his Holy Spirit has asked us to do, yet we have not done. When we confess our sins and ask the Lord to forgive us, it is usually easy to remember the ways that we have broken God’s law. But we don’t even usually recognize, let alone ask forgiveness for the things that He has asked from us, but that we have either ignored or refused. Failing to help a person that asked for it and we know needed it… Failing to offer the encouraging words that God told us to tell another person. Failing to be available or generous or hard-working, etc. James challenges his readers to be careful because failing in this way is also a sin. How different would the church look, if we took this verse seriously?…
Yesterday, I sang the following lyrics from old hymns that I led with the residents at Pinewood Square…
• Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way. Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
• Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe
• Where He leads me, I will follow. I’ll go with him, with him all the way.
• I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
I have mentioned often how God always wants to do something new in our lives and in the church. This is the character of his kingdom. This verse bluntly calls us out and holds us accountable to take steps to see that happen. The Christian life requires courage and conviction and perseverance every day, not just when we first give our lives to Christ. So, whatever area the Lord is speaking to you about - whether in your work, or your marriage, or in your personal faith, or your place of service at church… whatever it is… make a commitment today to surrender all of yourself. Pray desperately, and then actually do the things that God has asked you to do!
Let me ask one little thing of you before Sunday… We will be covering all of 1 Corinthians chapters 2 and 3 and it would be great if you could read those chapters before the service. Thanks for that! And don’t forget… please join us tonight for discipleship at 6:15 or, if you are a young adult, tomorrow at 6:30.
Blessings to you all!
And know that I am praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:17
Yesterday at our Crowfield Bible Club study we finished James chapter 4 with this verse. The first time I was challenged by this verse was in college. Like it is for most students away from home for the first time, every day was a test. Nobody made me get up to go to class or work. There was no one to hold me accountable to live according to the values and morals that I grew up with and personally held to. The decision was mine alone. Leaving home for the first time and facing the decision of how to live is a trying time in life - whether one attends college or not. Young people are faced with the question - What do you really believe? Unfortunately, studies show that more than 50% of young people leave the faith fairly soon after leaving their childhood home. When confronted with the opportunity to live like the world in sin, the temptation is too overwhelming.
This verse, however, is talking about a different kind of sin. One that continues to tempt Christians even after they have made a commitment to their faith by resisting the devil and fleeing temptation. These are sometimes called sins of omission. You see, sin is not just giving into the temptations to do something that God has forbidden. Sin also includes the things that we know through his Word are right to do, and that God through his Holy Spirit has asked us to do, yet we have not done. When we confess our sins and ask the Lord to forgive us, it is usually easy to remember the ways that we have broken God’s law. But we don’t even usually recognize, let alone ask forgiveness for the things that He has asked from us, but that we have either ignored or refused. Failing to help a person that asked for it and we know needed it… Failing to offer the encouraging words that God told us to tell another person. Failing to be available or generous or hard-working, etc. James challenges his readers to be careful because failing in this way is also a sin. How different would the church look, if we took this verse seriously?…
Yesterday, I sang the following lyrics from old hymns that I led with the residents at Pinewood Square…
• Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way. Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
• Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe
• Where He leads me, I will follow. I’ll go with him, with him all the way.
• I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
I have mentioned often how God always wants to do something new in our lives and in the church. This is the character of his kingdom. This verse bluntly calls us out and holds us accountable to take steps to see that happen. The Christian life requires courage and conviction and perseverance every day, not just when we first give our lives to Christ. So, whatever area the Lord is speaking to you about - whether in your work, or your marriage, or in your personal faith, or your place of service at church… whatever it is… make a commitment today to surrender all of yourself. Pray desperately, and then actually do the things that God has asked you to do!
Let me ask one little thing of you before Sunday… We will be covering all of 1 Corinthians chapters 2 and 3 and it would be great if you could read those chapters before the service. Thanks for that! And don’t forget… please join us tonight for discipleship at 6:15 or, if you are a young adult, tomorrow at 6:30.
Blessings to you all!
And know that I am praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
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