George Patton, the famous WWII General, once said, "No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair."  Patton was known for advancing on the enemy, rather than sitting there and waiting to be attacked. Patton was a general of unparalleled brilliance, and unbridled determination when it came to defeating whatever enemy was in front of him. He believed that sitting down and contemplating was not the best path to victory, but rather one had to think and then act promptly in order to overcome your foe. 

Jesus never said anything about swivel chairs, but He did preach against sitting around and doing nothing. Mark 1:38 Jesus said, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out."  He also spoke to Peter, James, and John as recorded in Matthew 26 saying, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  What's the problem with doing nothing? Well, nothing. Nothing is wrong with doing nothing, meaning when you do nothing, you become nothing. You are nothing for God and nothing for your neighbor. However, when you do nothing, you become everything for the devil. When you do nothing, the devil breaks in and does his damage before you even realize it. Jesus saved us on the cross, and today forgives us all of our sins. We do nothing when it comes to accomplishing our salvation. We do nothing to make ourselves holy, or attain the forgiveness of sins. We do nothing when it comes to our eternal life and out justification before our heavenly Father. Jesus does all the work for us. And now, it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives within us. And because it is Jesus who lives within us, we hate doing nothing. We live in prayer, reception of the Gospel, and sacrificial love for our neighbor. This means that we spend out time in God's Word and in living in love for our neighbor. We live, not sitting down and contemplating what it means to be a Christian, but rather we live as a Christian in faith toward God and in fervent love toward our neighbor.  

So, let's go. Let's not sit around, but instead busy ourselves in prayer, love, repentance, and forgiveness. Let's go and hear the Gospel and live lives of sacrifice for all those God brings into our lives in our vocations. May we have confidence as we go, knowing that when we fail, God forgives us and continues to keep us under the shelter of His wings. May we continue to go, not sit in a swivel chair, but advance on the enemy. May we pray for each other, bear each other's burdens, and encourage one another as we live an afflicted life under the attacks of the devil and the worries of the world. Let's go as we continue to be loved by God and love everyone as we are loved by Jesus Himself.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog