The Christian Life is a Life of Doing |
| Written by Craig Wilson |
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I believe that the Bible teaches that God is sovereign, totally absolutely sovereign in all things. Not some things but in all things. We must be very careful to not let the God's sovereign control lead us to make the mistake that our actions really don't matter. The thinking goes if God is sovereign then it is what it is and my actions really don't matter much at all.
In the Scriptures there are some things that create what I refer to as "tension". One of those tensions is if God is sovereign then why are there so many commands and exhortations in the Scriptures given to me to play an active role in my own spiritual development? For instance what did Paul say to the Philippians? "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."(Philippians 2:12-13ESV) Don't let Paul's words confuse you, there is no contradiction, but there is a tension. We do have some "doing" in spiritual growth, while at the same time we are confident that God is working as well. If God is at work shouldn't I just set back and let God do all the work, after all He can do it much better than I can. But on the other hand there are plenty of verses that instruct us in specific actions that you and I are to take in order for us to become more like Christ. Just examine Colossians chapter three. Paul instructs us to put some things away while simultaneously putting some other things on. God is not going to do these for us, He will help us do what He has commanded us to do, but He won't do them for us. Paul lays the responsibility for doing squarely on our shoulders. That is doing of the Christian life. What happens when you and I don't "do" the Christian life? What happens if we mistakenly adopt the stance of passivity and wait on God to do it all for us? Just ask your self this question, does passivity produce growth? Does in produce growth in any area of your lives? For instance we desire to grow intellectually, isn't it true that we need to read, study and apply knowledge in order to "get smart"? If you want to become stronger, don't you have to begin to exercise? Do you become stronger and fitter by simply watching infomercials on television? Of course we don't. Why then do we think that we can grow spiritually without "doing"? I can gather all the ingredients needed to bake a cake, I can even read the instructions on how to bake a cake, I can read those instructions every day faithfully for maybe years, but those ingredients won't ever become a cake until I put the instructions to use, it won't become a cake until I take action and mix it all together and throw it in the oven. Is there a danger in not doing? James seems to think so. He wrote "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."(James 1:22ESV) What happens to those who don't "do"? They end up deceiving not others but themselves!! As a pastor I'm very concerned about those who constantly hear the word but never become doers of the word. I'm concerned for two reasons, first they are being disobedient to the Lord, second they are in clear danger of being deceived. Take some time to think about what happens when we are deceived. Any positive outcome from deception? Are you a hearer or a doer? The Christian life is a life of doing! |