Do As I Say and Not As I Do

WE HAVE MOTTOS DOWN AT the church for newcomers struggling to make sense of their new life in Christ.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of the Scriptures used to encourage a person to trust in the Lord and not oneself.

The truth of that Scripture, to new Jesus followers, means to stop sinning. It means to not lean on the things and people we once understood to bring relief for our troubled lives. 

Like getting drunk or sleeping with the married boss. 

And sure enough, life gets better, and the up and down roller coaster road becomes a straighter path. That’s a no-brainer. 

The truth never changes, but I seemed to have changed. No longer fighting against the desires of my flesh to reach for something harmful that used to bring shame, guilt, or remorse “the morning after”, my struggle is with God. 

After almost twenty years on a straight path where my life was honorable, respectable, significant, and secure, it was not my favorite sins that led me back to the twists and turns of an up and down roller coaster ride that was completely outside my control. 

It was the circumstances of my life. 

Believing God is in control of all circumstances, that he never says ‘Oops, I didn’t see THAT coming,’ I tried to trust him to make my path straight again, but he had other plans. 

At first, the wise counsel of my Christian friends spoke another favorite church motto, Jeremiah 29:11 in an effort to remind me that God has plans to prosper me. 

‘When he closes a door, he has another one open,’ they said. The only problem is that none of us, as smart as we were, could find the open door.  

That door, the one I expected, is still not open after ten years of what I’d like you to believe was my patient waiting. But, in all honesty, it has been more like a person locked into solitary confinement for a crime he did not commit. 

Have you ever been in jail? 

It is true that it is the most frightening place on the planet when you first arrive. 

You lose your freedom. 

You don’t get to do what you want when you want. 

You don’t get to plead your case with anyone who has the power to set you free, even though you espouse your innocence to anyone who will listen. 

All you know is that you want out so you can return to your old life—the life you deserve. 

But, while you’re in jail, it will become a new normal—as strange as it is—and you’ll meet new people, some of whom will be the most disgusting low-life heathens you can imagine, but you’ll find yourself enjoying their company. 

All things won’t be bad. 

You won’t spend time worrying about what you’ll wear. 

Or what you’ll eat. 

And you’ll have lots of time alone. 

To think. 

If you’re fortunate, you’ll read a Bible, and because you are reading it rather than have someone preach it to you, the words will speak to you. 

If you’re in jail long enough, you’ll hear the quiet voice of God drawing you to the assurance that you are loved, if only by him. 

If you keep reading, you will know that you know he exists and you will wonder how or even why he found you in such a dreary place. 

You will not understand, but you will be grateful. 

It may take a while, but at some point, you will see that you never deserved the old life you want to go back to. 

You’ll see that every good thing that ever happened to you came not from your own effort, but from him. 

You’ll see that he orchestrated your life for such a time as this, if only so that you could know him—apart from any religion you ever thought you followed.

Some of us need to be stuck in a vice-grip, held by the loving hands of God so that we can see how much of our life has been spent leaning on our own understanding, a sin as great as any other. 

We learn this not by doing but by being still.    

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

John 6:37, Romans 8:28, Malachi 3:6, John 6:44, Acts 8:26,Isaiah 55:6-7, John 15:16, Hebrews 1:10-12, Matthew 6:25-34

As always, it is my intent and hope that my words may encourage you wherever you are in your journey.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below or go to the group tab above to share your own experience. It only takes a minute of your time to register (and you can be anonymous), and your words may help others. 

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.–Jesus (Mark 4:23)

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