Yes, Love Does: A Word from the WORD on Doing

Have you ever purchased something, opened the package, popped in the two "D" batteries (not included), flipped on the switch, and whalla . . . nothing?  It looked fine on the outside but didn't do anything.  It was made for a purpose but it was useless.

I was listening to the radio this week and came upon an interview with Bob Goff, author of the book "Love Does."  Bob is also the founder of "Restore International," a nonprofit human rights organization that operates in Uganda and India. It spurred me to look into what God's Word says about "doing." It's easy to talk, easy to plan, and easy to coast but it's much harder to actually do something, accomplish something, for God.  What does "doing" look like in the life of a believer?  

Psalm 34:15 says, "Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it."

Paul says it this way, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Then there is the well known verse from James chapter two, "Faith without works is dead."

Jesus said in Luke 6:26-28, "But to those who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Apparently, when Jesus got to this part of his message, many had begun to tune him out.  So he prefaced this statement with "to those who are listening."  Are you listening?  If you've gotten this far I'll assume you are and tell you first that I am a lousy doer.  I'm full of good intentions but doing doesn't come easy.  Why?  Three things:

Self, Self, and Self.  

Why do we look like Christians but get so little accomplished for the Kingdom of God?

Self.

That is why the title of Bob's book "Love does"  resonates with me.  When you love someone you preferentially do things for them, sacrificially giving up something of your own: your time, your money, your possessions, etc.  We spend so much time in the pursuit of happiness that we miss our opportunity to love and thus "do" for others. When we begin to be more selfless we begin to operate in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  We start to look more like Jesus.

Take a moment today to look at your agenda;  maybe today's agenda, maybe the agenda for the week or even your plans for this year.  Do they focus on you and your happiness or do they look outward to others?  What is it that you can DO?  Pray, feed, clothe, hug, nurture, share the gospel, encourage, listen, mentor, rescue, protect, defend, forgive?  Maybe a little of each.  Ask God for direction and discernment.  He prepared these things in advance so you (we) just need to do them when they show up.  As we do, I believe the Lord will expand our territory and our influence.  That's why humble people like Mother Theresa can affect so many for Christ.  She was special because she chose to love and, in love, to DO.  You to can be special in your service for Christ and can affect many but you have to start doing.  Careful because this may actually involve doing for someone who hates you, offends you, or has harmed you.  OK, now go and do.


Peace,


David