Does dies?

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While texting the word "does" today, T9 suggested I type "dies". Hmmm... only a single letter difference. I thought it interesting from the moment I saw it. I've been thinking about it all day. I wondered: Do you have to die to actually do? Or. Do you die because you don't do? Does doing require dying of some kind to get something done that is worthy? Is life not worth it, if we're not doing good of some sort, does something inside us die? Does dies? Does it really? (FYI: when sharing such thoughts with my sister, she kindly kept her silence, but shook her head from my weird way of thinking.)


After pondering upon that thought for a while a lady called me. She was preparing to speak to a church group about helping the prisoners. She needed some insight on what to say. She wanted to pick my brain.


It's after I got off the phone that I begin thinking: We pass them by! The striped and beaten and robbed and left for dead people. We pass them by! And sometimes, especially in this season. 


We pass them by on our way to buy presents. On our way to a party. On our way to grab coffee. We can't donate a few dollars to them, because we need that money to go get our hair done. We've got to get food prepared... so that we can feed the already fed. So we can give to the already gotten... those that don't really need it. So we can share the season with those that already have someone to share it with. We pass by those that need it the most.... simply because we fail to see them. In our hustle and bustle and all full of good cheer.... we don't see them in our blindness, they never cross our minds. Or if they do, we might put a few dollars in the Salvation Army's bucket as they sit ringing the bell by the door when we run into Cosco. What are we missing? Why don't we see them? What if they were someone we loved? What if one day one year one of them were us?


Like I said, I don't think we mean to. We're joyful in our season. We sing our "Merry Christmas's"... and we truly mean it. But look what James says... and while looking, see if it fits you: 


"What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds" [In other words, but does not "do"... (As we're referring to it today: but has no "does")]? "Can such faith save him?"  Woe, listen to this part, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accomplished by action, is dead" (James 2:14-17). 


What good is it? What good is your faith? Who benefits from you because you love Jesus? One version asks, "what does it profit (when)... ye give them not"? What good is it... when you do nothing? I want to be a giver. I don't want to be a giver-not. Dare I be (without meaning to be) a do-nothing-er!!!


Does your "does" do? Or, is your "does" dead? As we wish our "Merry Christmas's" this season... let's make sure to remember to put our hands where our mouth is. :)
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