The Number One Way To Do What God Says
We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.
John R.W. Stott
I want to do the right thing. Don’t you?
I spend my “free time” in the car or on the treadmill listening to podcasts, so I can learn more. On my nightstand, I have a few leadership books. I listen to 150 podcasts every week, and I read through (or skim through) over 330 blogs whenever there is a new post.
I stand by the saying “Leaders are readers.”
But I think I sometimes take it too far.
When I say I want to do the right thing, I mean this:
- I want to be a great husband.
- I want to be a great father.
- I want to be a great employee.
- I want to be a great boss.
- I want to be a great leader.
- I want to be a great friend.
- I want to be a great teammate.
- I want to be a great giver.
- I want to be a great person.
I don’t want to mess up when it comes to these areas of my life (and other areas). I’m a perfectionist. Unfortunately, I get it wrong if these are my pursuits.
I want to be a great Christ-follower. If I can get this right, the other things should take care of themselves. If I’m serious about this proclamation – if I’m serious about wanting to be a great Christ-follower, I should do what God says.
What is the number one way to do what God says?
If you want to do what God says, you have to know what God says.
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:9-11
If I want to follow Christ, I have to start by digesting God’s Word. Spending time in God’s Word does not happen with a closed, dust-covered Bible on the coffee table. It happens when I open it up, when I study it, and when I take time to chew on it. Only then can I truly do what God says.
If you want to do the right thing, start with God’s Word.
When was the last time you spent time studying God’s Word? How do you make the most of time reading The Bible? What has God recently been teaching you through His Word?