LET’S DO IT FIRST – THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT
God Provided. But, the Israelites still had to get up, go out, bend down and pick up the “mana”, put in their own mouth and eat it!
And, so must we.
Exodus 16:4 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them to see whether they will walk in My instruction. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7and in the morning.”
I remember, early in my career as a salesman, how my colleagues would talk about all they were going to accomplish, thanks to the big company they worked for. They would talk about how much they were going to sell, how big a business they were going to build, how much money they were going to make. They always seemed to have a big plan, complete with details. They talked about it all the time, and studied their plan daily. But, very few ever accomplished anything close to what they promised. They would do what was convenient but never what was required. Then, when year-end conventions came around and accomplishment awards were given, they would stand, gazing at those who had said very little in public about what they were going to accomplish, but, in the end, those getting ther rewards, had actually DONE what needed to be done, to win the prize.
The president of our company must have heard what sounded a lot like bragging from those who only did what was convenient, and I assume he was tired of hearing their empty talk. So, he gave a speech he titled, “JUST DO IT, then talk about it”. It became one his favorite speeches, and he gave it often. He would love to say, “Just do it, and do it, and do it, and do it, until you can’t do it anymore. And when you’ve done what you said, THEN TALK ABOUT IT!” I thought it was great advice, and I did my best to DO IT that way!
Now-a-days, I am still hearing and reading remarks and memes about what people are going to do. But now, it’s from us who are Christians, and it goes something like this:
“God’s got this. (Just sit back and watch)”
“Stop worrying. Relax. We win in the end”
“God is still on the throne”
“Were “good”. We are in God’s Hands”
“God’s in control”
“It is 100% God winning the day.”
All these remarks are true, and they are great reminders – but, all-to-often, nothing changes. So, I have t ask, “Why do we just keep gazing into the sky and waiting”?
The problem is, what is being said seems more like wishful thinking than marching orders or a battle cry.
Look at Exodus 16 again:
v4 ”Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you;”
In other words, “GOD’S GOT THIS” – He is doing His part.
and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.
In other words, WE HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN GOD’S PROVISION – I.E., WE MUST BE OBEDIENT AND DO WHAT HE SAYS – this is our part.
v5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”
In other words, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS AND EXECUTE HIS PLAN, HERE ON EARTH
v6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7and in the morning.
In other words, AFTER GOD HAS DONE HIS PART AND WE HAVE DONE OUR PART, WE CAN THEN TRUTHFULLY, CONFIDENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY SAY,
“God’s got this”
“Stop worrying. Relax. We win in the end”
“God is still on the throne”
“You are in God’s Hands”
“God’s in control”
“It is 100% God winning the day.”
Again, in the New Testament, we are reminded (reprimanded):
Acts 1:10 “And as they (Jesus’ disciples) were gazing intently into the sky while He was ascending into heaven,, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
In other words, STOP JUST STANDING THERE AND GET ABOUT DOING WHAT I HAVE JUST TOLD YOU TO BE DOING:
Jesus was clear (Matthew 28:16-19)
Go, therefore,
In other words, “GO”
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you;
In other words, “DO”
and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In other words, when the Works are finished, and we have DONE what HE has told us to DO, then, we can TRUTHFULLY, CONFIDENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY SAY,
“God had this. all along”
“Stop worrying. Relax. We won”
“God is still on the throne”
“We are in His Hands”
“God’s in control”
“It is 100% Jesus”
Jesus teaches on making ‘vows’ or statements about what you are going to do. It’s interesting and helpful. Read it? (click here)
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young