January 13, 2021
Weekly Reflection – Believe and Do
Believe and do is not just a catch phrase. In a sermon this past week Mark Abshier of the MacArthur Park Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas suggested that the Bible doesn’t have a single teaching that does not affect how we should live in life. I think he is on to something.
Numerous teachings in the Scriptures combine what we learn and believe intellectually with what we should do. For example, in James 1:22-27, we read, “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus compares the wise and foolish builders. “Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like….” And in John 13:17, Jesus says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Yes, it seems that every teaching in the Bible affects what we are to do.
How are you doing in your doing?
Looking back to James, he writes in James 2:19-20, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person…faith without deeds is worthless…” So, it is all about believing and doing. It takes both. Building on James 2, Mark Abshier calls believing without doing “demon level belief.”
I remember driving around a city in southern Egypt with the minister of a large evangelical church that frequently came under persecution. He shared how he was trying to teach his congregation that they must be honest in their business dealings. Do not take bribes. Use accurate scales. You are not like the rest of the business community. You are Christians! Could he have preached that in your community as well?
Here are three things one can do to help combine believing and doing in his or her life.
Three Things
1. Remember that the Word both informs and transforms. It changes us.
2. Reflect on what the Word says. Meditate. Contemplate. Reflect. It is about more than just learning some facts.
3. Respond to God’s Word with your whole life. That includes relationships, resources, talents, finances, etc.
Five Points
And finally, here are five points that Mark Abshier suggests can help you better align what you believe and do.
1. One Word. Think of one area of life you would like to improve in.
2. Evaluate how you are doing two times each month.
3. Share it with three people.
4. Do it for four months.
5. Answer five questions in your meetings: Have I prayed about it? Have I memorized key scriptures about it? Where have I failed? Where have I succeeded? Am I telling the truth?
Thank you for joining me in this great “journey to eternity” that we find ourselves in this year. May we both learn through our studies at NationsUniversity and also experience positive change in what we do from day today.
Blessings,
Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu
chaplainscorner.org
Deliver us, Lord, that by Your mercy we might have peace in our day and be free from sin and safe from all distress, all worries, anxieties, fears, accidents, sicknesses, desperations, and unprepared death as we await the blessed hope and coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Read more Weekly Reflections: Chaplain’s Corner