| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Be the church” Our Bible verse for today: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (CSB) Our thought for today: “All hat, no cattle?” My friends from Texas understand the phrase, “All hat, no cattle.” Texas cowboys use it in reference to dudes from up north who move to Texas, buy an expensive pair of boots, jeans, a fancy cowboy shirt, and a big cowboy hat, and then strut around like they’re now a real cowboy. But in reality, the guy doesn’t live on a ranch, he owns no cattle, and he doesn’t know which end of the horse to pet. The locals scoff and say, “He’s all hat, no cattle.” Sadly, many Christians are also all hat and no cattle. They talk a good game but don’t actually do much. Especially when it comes to effectively engaging with the unbelieving world for the cause of Christ. For instance, we love to talk about evangelism, and we agree that everyone needs Jesus, but it’s a small percentage of Christians who regularly share their faith with others. Likewise, most of us talk about how important it is for Christians to be engaged in the important issues of the day but to a large extent, it’s just talk. Many people complain about problems in the schools, but they never go to a school board meeting to contribute comments about school policy. Or, how many attend city council meetings to give voice to public policy initiatives? Fewer still have a discussion with an advocate for the Gay and Lesbian Agenda, genuinely listening to the other person’s perspective and sharing theirs with them. It’s an easy (and safe) thing for us to hunker down in our little Baptist forts (churches) and talk to each other about all the woes of the world and all that should be done about it. But it’s something else again to go out and actually do something constructive about it. And again, as we have been learning in previous devotionals, the key word in that last sentence is “constructive,” as in “helpful.” Anyone can carry a sign and shout angry slogans. It takes an informed and confident follower of Christ to engage in meaningful dialogue with those who have different perspectives. Anyone can be critical of government leaders, but it takes a patient and thoughtful person to work with elected officials to help craft policies and legislation to bring about needed changes. In recent days we have considered what it would look like for bold and confident Christians to be strong and resilient while also being reasoned and magnanimous – the proverbial man or woman of “steel and velvet” discussed in a previous devotional. We need Christians like that. If we are to be more than just Christian poseurs and not “all hat and no cattle;” if we really do believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer and that we as Christians have the Good News that the world needs to hear; then let’s resolve to actually be the church in our world today. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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