The Rev. Jim Rushton
First Lutheran Church in Glenville

You know the saying, “Everybody says, let somebody do it. Somebody says let anybody do it. And, when anybody doesn’t do it, nobody does it!”

Passing off responsibility to the next person is like playing the game of Hot Potato — get rid of it as fast as you can.

But wait a minute!

Who of us is that ridiculous that we are running around looking to take on more responsibilities?

It seems to us that our days are so full of being busy that before we know it, it’s time for our heads to hit the pillow. In fact, when we say, “we are busy” it’s like wearing a badge of honor.

“Say, did you hear that Tom is a very busy guy?!”

But the question is, busy doing what?

It’s not hard to fill our day with lots of things to do. But what are we doing, really?

Can we look back over our day and say that what we have accomplished has some lasting significance? Has what we have done made a difference in the lives of those around us?

Several years back, there was a human interest story about a black, retired man who stood by his curb every day waving and smiling at people as they drove by. The man said he felt he was helping make the day of those who drove by a little brighter.

Now, was that a silly waste of time?

In the Christian church, every day millions of us contribute to faithful ministry.

We pray that we do not get caught up in the trap of “let somebody do it.”

We will do it — small and large endeavors alike.

Everything we do makes a difference in the kingdom of God when we do it out of thankfulness for the experience of the forgiveness of our sin.

Yes, the forgiveness of our sin, through Christ, and him crucified in the Garden of Gethsemane, the very son of God did not pass off his calling on someone else.

Instead…”He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole and by his bruises we are healed.”

Yes, even more than being an example, Jesus is our savior — the very one whose faithfulness endures forever!