Stop Talking...Start Doing!

Year 6 - Day 269: Today, I am grateful for the reminder to stop arguing and start doing. 

"If we would do what Jesus said, instead of arguing about what Jesus said, the world would change." -Andy Stanley

Stop talking. Start doing. 

The complain train is so easy to board and ride into misery. Complaining never changed anything. I know... as I have ridden it to the end of the line a time or two. It takes intelligent, intentional decisions to avoid that pitfall... and prayer. Lots of prayer!  

People are never going to agree on everything all of the time. In fact, there are times when there are two paths to the same destination. There is more than one way to make popcorn, right? Still, if there is going to be popcorn, someone has to get off the couch and start popping. By skillet, by air, by microwave or Jiffy-Pop over a campfire. 

It is good to discuss Jesus words and ways, as "iron sharpens iron". We all learn more when come together in fellowship, searching the word. Still, the Bible is pretty clear that it is our acts that will spread the gospel and change the world. Not our smartness, our rightness or our head knowledge. We must apply it to our hearts and live out the gospel in our little corner of the world. 

When we stand before God, with Jesus as our defender... it won't be a test of our head knowledge and theological correctness. It will be an assessment of our heart and what we did with His sacrifice and His son. Did we love him enough to study and meditate on His Word? Did we fulfill the great commission and choose love while sharing His love with others? Did we believe, receive and then sit and argue who is the most right in scripture interpretation. That is exactly what the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus day did. 

To seek him with our whole hearts and find passion in the pursuit... it spills out in love. If He is in us, it leaks. Look at this passage from Paul:

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters,I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.  I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NLT)

"Forget everything except Jesus Christ..." That is the best place to start. Oh how sweet it is to dig deeper into the scriptures for the mysteries and wonder that unfold, but Jesus first. 

Every day it is a challenge to try and be more like him. Every day, we miss the mark in some way, as we are not yet perfected. Still, the Holy Spirit leads us on and the day is coming when we will "see Him as he is". But for today, we are to love as he loved and do as he did. 

Today, I am grateful for the reminder to stop arguing and start doing.