I grew up in Kansas, in the middle of the country. During my freshman year of college, I went to Waxahachie, Texas, where I was exposed to Southern expressions—terms like y’all and fixin’. The term fixin’ means you are getting ready to do something. “I am fixin’ to clean the gutters on my house.” I found some people can be fixin’ to do something for a long time while others get right to work. The church often gets stuck in fixin’ mode, discussing what needs to be done but never doing anything about it.
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
James 2:14–17 (NLT)
Have you heard about people who are fixers? They are not handymen or women who do repairs. Prominent people will have a fixer, usually a lawyer, who comes behind the person and cleans up the messes they have made from poor decisions or behavior. I can’t afford a fixer, so I must be good. I pray the Church (that’s you and me) will develop the fruit of goodness more and more.
You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.Ephesians 5:8–10 (MSG)
This morning, God challenged me with this thought. “Maybe we should quit trying to fix the Church and concentrate instead on being the Church. The Church is the people God calls to follow Jesus and represent the Kingdom of God today. Jesus said he would build His Church (Matthew 16:18), and the Holy Spirit is great at leading and convicting the Church (John 16:13-15). Let’s allow God to be God and work his goodness in and through our lives. Instead of fixin’ or fixing let us be good.
New Hope 