The Challenge Series: Just Do It
Written By: Christy BrittonWomen love to get together and talk. We talk about what is going on in our lives and the things that interest us. When women who love the Lord gather to talk, we talk about the things of the Lord, about his word. Sometimes, we call it bible study. We memorize verses. We study the scriptures. We read books about what other people say about the scriptures. Gathering to study and talk about God’s word is good; but it’s incomplete. James 1:22 says,
be doers of the word, and not just hearers, deceiving yourselves.
God’s people won’t be content to just talk about his word, we will desire to do his word because we love him. John 14:15 says,
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
So, what are we doing?As I think about actionable obedience in my own life, my mind immediately goes to the spectacular. I imagine myself rescuing little girls out of the hands of human traffickers in the Ukraine. I see myself visiting an orphanage in Haiti and coming home with two or ten new little Brittons. During my free time, you might find me taking Sudanese refugees into my home and helping them search for their family members online as I introduce them to Jesus. You know, superhero Christianity. Obviously, this would be followed up by my bestselling book recounting all the big and extraordinary ways I obey God and inspire others to do the same.While the justice seeker in me would love to be involved with all the previously mentioned rescues, I have a confession. I’m a full-time homeschool mom and part time assistant to the director of a nonprofit. My life is not exactly about the big and wild things. Well, maybe the wild things since I’m the momma to four adventurous boys. My life is about the daily, refining moments of obedience that appear insignificant to the world, but are valuable to my God. Each of these moments offer me the opportunity to testify to what I say I believe.It’s not enough nor will believers be content just knowing the word. We are people who do the word. Instead of talking about how gossip is sinful, I should choose not to repeat something potentially slanderous, testifying that Christ is Lord. Instead of just agreeing that gluttony is a sin, I should only eat one cookie instead of four, testifying that Christ is Lord. Instead of just talking about humility, I should ask my sisters for help when I struggle with sin, declaring that Christ is Lord. Instead of just talking about wives submitting to husbands, I should submit to mine, declaring that Christ is Lord. And instead of talking about denying self, I should not spend my time indulging my flesh, proclaiming that Christ is Lord. I bring him glory in every moment I obey, and my day, like yours, is filled with opportunities to do so.When I tell my kids that pure religion is visiting orphans and widows in their affliction (Jas.1:27), my own religion should involve caring for the vulnerable. As my family reads the story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44) together, my kids should see that our giving involves sacrifice and not just giving out of abundance. When I tell my kids that Christ is our advocate (1 John 2:1), does my own voice get used for people without one? When I tell my kids that we are to go make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19), do they ever see me leave my zip code or support those who do? When I teach my kids that we are sojourners on this earth, that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20), our home should mirror God’s welcoming arms to the refugee. When I tell my kids that God commands us to seek justice (Isa. 1:17), do they see a justice seeker when they look at me?As image bearers, our lives must reflect Christ and project him to a world that is watching, hurting, and lost. In her book, Holiness: The Heart God Purifies, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth says,
What others most need is to see in you a reflection of what God is like.
God is our father, and we should look like him by doing what he does. The world needs to see.To be a doer, we must first be a knower. We must know Christ as the one who won our salvation by conquering death, who bore God’s wrath for us while gifting us with his righteousness. We must know God as the father who adopted us into his family, making us heirs with Christ. We must know his spirit that fills us with the grace to obey.Obedience involves the big and wild things as well as the everyday moments. Our love for God demands our actionable obedience. Christians are people of action, doers of the word. David Platt says, “And while we stand with conviction and courage, we must live with compassion. Amid a world with massive social needs around us, ranging from desperate poverty and orphan crises and millions of girls being trafficked for sex, to the degradation of marriage and the abortion of babies, we need to speak and act with selfless love on all of these issues.” May we be people who stand with conviction as we live with compassion. May we not only speak, but act with selfless love.
- As you read scripture, develop the discipline to ask yourself if you are doing what you're reading. Examine yourself. If you're heavy on the reading and light on the doing; repent. Then ask your father for the grace to obey.
- Obey when no one is looking. Obey in the ordinary. Obedience is it's own reward.
- You are an image bearer. You are a walking advertisement for your father. What are you showing the world about him? Resolve to show the world more of your father and less of yourself.
Meet Christy Britton. She is married to Stephen and a homeschool mom to 4 fantastic boys. The Brittons worship and serve as covenant members of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, NC. She is a justice seeker and orphan advocate at 127 Worldwide. In her minuscule free time, Christy loves reading (mostly Puritans), writing, hospitality, gospel conversations, good food, traveling to Africa, and discipleship. Team Britton is currently pursuing international adoption from Uganda.