Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:15-17, NIV)
I sometimes ponder the origination of phrases and how they make their way into our vernacular.
The exclamation, “You da man!” used to dominate golf galleries before giving way to today’s ubiquitous, “Mashed Potatoes!” Was the former inspired by Nathan’s rebuking of David in 2 Samuel 12:7? I haven’t found evidence to support it, but a Google search did reveal that the latter’s popularity can be traced back to the 2011 Chevron World Challenge, when golf fan Andrew Widmar screamed it on TV to get his mom’s attention.
Truth be told, Widmar’s nonsense makes me want to scream at my TV.
What about, “I could care less”? How did this become a thing? Why are you holding back with your disregard? Do you get bonus points if your disdain goes to 11? (Did I really just use a Spinal Tap reference in a devotion?!)
Then there’s the one we can’t escape these days: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to (fill in the blank).”
If the situation avails itself, I pray with the person right then and there.I wish I had a pure heart, but I’ll admit on more than one occasion I’ve questioned the sincerity of the news anchor using the line as a mindless transition to the next story. I know it’s not my job to judge, but sometimes my sin nature wins the internal battle.
Why does it bother me? See today’s verse. If I tell you I’m going to pray for you, but I don’t actually do it, what good is it?
I can’t speak for anyone else, but if somebody asks me to pray for them, I don’t say, “Will do!” and continue on my way. If the situation avails itself, I pray with the person right then and there. Why? I think it’s powerful for people to hear you pray specific prayers for them, even if you feel awkward doing it.
More so, I don’t want to add something else to my to-do list, thus opening the door to me forgetting and not being true to my word, something Jesus warned against in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33-37).
I’m not sure I even understand what “my thoughts go out to you” means, so I stay away from it.
I think people appreciate all prayers, but I believe there’s an added level of comfort when I say, “I’ve been praying for you,” followed by, “and here’s how.”
To this I’ve yet to hear the response, “I couldn’t care less.”
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Drew Hamilton
June 17, 2020
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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