I should, I could, I did

I should stop doing this and start doing that.

Why?

Someone I respect said that it worked for them and "I should."

I could do what they said IF I had a little inspiration or a life or death reason to motive me.

It seems like these two parts, "I should" and "I could" have to be dealt with positively before we can come to the doing part: "I did!"

Religious and spiritual people want us to do what they say.

Or do what their sacred writings require.

DOING THE BIBLE?

The Bible and its writers also place an emphasis on doing.

Jesus said,

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house;

yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock." Matthew 7:21

"Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I say?" Luke 6:46

James wrote,

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

Paul wrote,

Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. 2 Corinthians 8:11

On the other hand, a TV pastor said,

"You're going to do whatever YOU want, not what I say."

That's a reality check, isn't it?

The One Who sees everything, Hebrews 4:13 and our motives (or lack of motivation), knows if we're like the hypocrites in Jesus' day that He commented on --

"You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

'These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.'

They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.'" Matthew 15:7-9

LET HIM HELP

Paul wrote,

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace, given me through the working of His power. Ephesians 3:7

Shouldn't and couldn't we believe that by the gift of the Father's grace that's given to us also through the working of His power, we can become servants of His gospel?

We should and could pray as Paul did --

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

[SAY IT: I am strengthened with His Spirit's power]

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

[SAY IT: The Lord Jesus Christ lives in me]

Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

[SAY IT: I have my spiritual roots planted and my feet cemented in His love]

will have power, together with all the saints [the Lord's people], to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge,

[SAY IT: I have His power to understand how big Christ's love is and to know it spiritually beyond human, natural knowledge]

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

[SAY IT: I am filled with Him]

Should His power and could His power DO more than we ask or think as His ability works within us so that we also can DO?

Now to Him Who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

These truths, if we believe them, (and SAY them) can help us to move from should to could, and then to do, so that "We did!"

PETER and PAUL'S DOING

Notice how Peter and Paul, who certainly did great things in Jesus' name Acts 3:6-8; 14:8-10 acknowledged that it was He working with them. Mark 16:19-20

Peter said,

"Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?" Acts 3:12

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong.

It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence." Acts 3:16

Peter said to a man paralyzed and bedridden for 8 years,

"Jesus Christ makes you whole." And the Lord did. Acts 9:33-35

Paul wrote --

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain.

No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20

To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me. Colossians 1:29

GO and DO ALSO

Peter wrote,

As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God.

If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Paul wrote,

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

Take all of His spiritual armor upon yourselves. Ephesians 6:11, 13

SAY IT:

"With the Savior's help by His Holy Spirit, I will speak as His spokesperson.

I will serve with His ability.

I will be strong in Him, not in my strength but in His power.

When I am weak, then I am strong through Him. 2 Corinthians 12:10

I should believe these truths.

I could believe these truths.

I DID believe these truths!"

Let's pray as Paul always did,

"Father, count us worthy of Your calling, and that You will powerfully fulfill Your every good desire and work of faith,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in us, and us in Him, according to Your grace and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful are You to do it. Thank you very much." 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Your thoughts?

R. Jason