Road Works Ahead
I don’t really love being in the car. Driving is really just a process of getting from A to B for me.
Maybe it was all the long drives through the countryside that I endured growing up. Being car sick half the time certainly didn’t help my enthusiasm.
But even still today, my car is just a means for me to get where I need to go. I like to go the quickest way to spend the least amount of time in the car. Driving time feels like wasted time.
And so, you can understand my frustration when I’m driving along and I see the sign “Roadworks Ahead”. I realise the council need to fix and maintain the roads, but do they have to do it when I need to drive past? I see the 40 kilometre speed sign, the Slow Down sign and equipment on the side of the road and I know I’m in for a long delay.
The only thing more frustrating is when all of the signs are up but no one is working. In fact, there are times when I’ve slowed down for roadworks and there’s not even anyone present on the site. I can’t believe it. My journey has been changed for the roadworks and there’s not even any work being done on the road! It makes me hot under the collar!
Sometimes I feel as Christians we can present just like this empty worksite. We have all the signs up that we believe in God – we go to church, we talk the talk – but there are few Godly actions going on.
God doesn’t demand we act in a certain way, but if we fully understand how amazing His love and grace is, and that He offers it to us freely, then we can’t help but act towards others as God has done for us. When we accept God’s grace then we take on His character. We do justice, love kindness and humble ourselves as we walk with God (as Micah 6:8 says).
But when we are proud or jealous or greedy or selfish or speak poorly of others we fall out of God’s character. And no Godly good comes of it. Our work is fruitless, just like an empty worksite. We lack integrity as we have the signs up but our labour is not for God.
Now each time I see some roadworks it’s a good reminder for me to keep working on my Godly behaviour. It gives me a check point to consider whether my actions are being fruitful for God or if I’ve checked out and just making people slow down for no good reason.
Lord, flavour my behaviour with your love and grace. May I live for You, not just with words, but also with my deeds. Amen.
How fruitful has your day been?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.