By Heather Tyson
How much do we talk and how much do we actually “DO”? I mean, let’s face it ~ it’s a legitimate question. From our jobs, to house work, to grocery shopping, to fitness, to adventures we dream about taking ~ the easy part of all of those is SAYING we are going to do it. The easy part is TALKING about it. What’s the hard part ~ getting up early every morning for the job. Actually vacuuming and doing laundry. Really, truly going to the grocery store for more than the four ingredients you need just to make dinner that night. Going to the gym and completing that horrifying workout. Booking that trip and lifelong dream adventure and just doing it. It’s easy to talk about those things, but what happens when it comes to DOING it? Sometimes we talk and just don’t do. It’s the truth ~ for all of us at one time or another, right?
It’s what we do with Jesus and our walk, too. Then we beg the question, but HOW do we do it? Well, here is what I know ~ we don’t. He does. Scripture tells us in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Get that last part, folks, apart from me you can do NOTHING. NOTHING. That’s where we miss the how. We still try to do stuff on our own.
This weekend, my fabulous husband and I had the awesome opportunity to serve alongside some friends. Now let me tell you this ~ I’m boring. I mean I go to bed at about 8 p.m. most nights. I’m tired from my day! I just am. Friday night, we sat with friends til nearly 2 a.m. ~ until we could hardly keep our eyes open any longer talking about JESUS. That is all we talked about the whole night and it was AMAZING! Here is my point ~ we could sit and talk about any other topic and it wouldn’t even matter ~ we’d be talking rather than doing. But by sitting there with our friends, talking about Jesus, we were DOING ~ we were investing in each other. We pointed each other to Jesus AND THAT IS DOING. Because it wasn’t us, it was Him. We shared stories of seeing Jesus in everything, from a dripping bathtub to bacon. Because the truth is, Jesus is in all of those things and when we allow Him to work through us, we see Him everywhere.
“God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.”
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Then on Sunday we were able to spend the morning supporting our friends as they allowed God to use them to begin planting a new church. I was humbled to be there and to serve alongside so many people that had a heart to minister to the lost and hurting. Let’s face it, that should be everyone’s mission, right? It is because our heart is of Him, but when we try to do it, we mess it up.
As we walked the streets talking to people, sharing with people and just allowing God to minister, we found we didn’t really need the words so much. Sitting with them was sometimes enough. Giving to them things to meet their basic needs was enough. Laughing and smiling with them was enough. Loving them was enough. See, it wasn’t about talking or what we said, it was about what we allowed God to do through us. It was about DOING. And not US doing, but HIM doing.
Here is my point ~ let’s all be conscious this week of DOING. But not US doing, Christ doing through us. Let’s let Him work. Let’s step out of our comfort zone. Wherever you are, you are in a mission field ~ allow Him to work through you. Stop talking, start doing.
We are the hands and feet of Jesus. May we love like He loves.
About Heather
I am a 37 year old newlywed with two precious little girls. My passion is simply Jesus and His great grace that covers all. The desire of my heart is to share my experiences and how My identity in Christ as holy, blameless, and loved is the driving force in my reaction to earthly trials. Life is all about Him and what He is Doing through us. I hold fast to His promise that He works all things for good. I look forward to sharing how my experiences in life have brought me into a deeper relationship with my Savior.