Put your shoulder to the wheel

By Gord Armstrong

RR Ministerial

In Matthew 22: 37-38 Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Please notice that Jesus said “all” not just a little, or some, or once in awhile, He said ALL. Then he goes on to say this is the greatest commandment. However, I wonder, do I, do we, ever contemplate why this is the greatest commandment? Is Jesus implying that if we follow this great commandment we will find a more fulfilling life? A life built on God’s principles- rather than on our man-made principles. If so, then who among us doesn’t want a more fulfilling life?

Then, Jesus urges us to practice these principles on each other, as he says “ Love your neighbour as yourself” Matthew 22:39. Christ is emphasizing dedicating our whole life to serving God by loving our fellow human beings and treating them with the same measure of concern and respect we want for ourselves. In other words we are to do this every day in every way, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and of course Sunday. If we strive to accomplish this we will be of great service to God.

Lets then try an experiment. Today and for the rest of the week, lets try to think, say and do, only kind and helpful thoughts and actions. This can be fun as you keep track of your own “slips of the tongue” and laugh at our own weaknesses and failures, but also record in your mind the reaction of others to this new you.

Now I want to give this idea a new twist. Many young people find life a struggle, especially as they change from a child to a teenager or a teen to a young adult. These can be horrendous times for young people. What if we were to go out of our way to encourage, to help, and to do, something extra special for them? Perhaps you could help them build a skateboard park, or a climbing wall-or –or whatever. Let’s be positive and not negative to their thoughts and ideas. Would God honour this type of thinking in Rainy River? You can be sure He will. Let us consider another group of people in this community, our business people. Some are struggling for their very survival as a business; in fact some have given up. How can we as a community support them? Lets look positive at their existence here in Rainy River and think, say and do what we can to help them stay and be viable here.

Do you think that the children, the teen’s and the Business people are the people Jesus was talking of when he said to “ Love our neighbour as ourselves.” Rainy River is a wonderful community, and we do kind and loving things when someone is sick, hurt or dying, but somehow we need to bring that caring loving concern into the every day life of our community. This is the start of the Christmas season, lets go the second mile for our young people, our friends, our neighbours and our merchants.

Lets each of strive to make this the most wonderful Christmas season ever.....and may God bless you as you bless others ...love you in Christ. Pastor Gord