Luke 22:42 – Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. (NIV)

Climbing up onto the stable roof and re-tarring all the rolled asphalt shingling is not my idea of fun. In fact, it's one of the last things that I ever wanted to see on my to-do list. And yet there it was: "tar barn roof".

Oh me, oh my! I really don't want to do this. I mean, I really, really don't want to do this! It's a heavy, dirty, messy job and very hard on my knees, but if I want the stable roof not to leak, I know what I need to do.

How like that is to obeying God's Word from time to time. If I'm honest, there are things in Scripture that I sometimes really, really just don't like having to do. Really, you ask? Honest? Yes, it's true. There have been times when I have simply not wanted to obey:

Matthew 5:38-39 – You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth." But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (NIV)

Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

Matthew 7:1 – Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (NIV)

Ephesians 4:26 – "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (NIV)

Sometimes, it's just hard to do the right thing, the thing that needs doing in order for us to keep maturing and growing to be more like Christ. But much like needing to re-tar my stable roof, to get the results that I want, I have to accept the job at hand, with God as my helper, and simply do it.

So I guess I know what I'm doing today. How about you?

Prayer: Father God, help each one of us today to do the job at hand that You have placed before us, whether it be large or small, physical, mental or spiritual. Help us to do it with the grace and strength, the diligence and humility of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, the One Who knows how to do the hard things in life that really need doing. In His name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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