Thursday-Doing

Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.’

Hebrews 10:7

Two of my very favorite things are people watching and people listening. I’m just so happy to sit back and watch people as they live and go about their business. And being in a group of people just listening to them is about as fun as it gets. What could be better?

When listening, one of my favorite things is to compare in my head who’s got the biggest story. One person will tell a story and then everyone piles on with their bigger and better. It’s almost like watching a bunch of second graders trying to impress their teacher and everyone else in the room.

Talking is one thing. Heck, it can even be a good thing. But there’s something so much better. So much more real. Something more important and lasting. And that would be actually doing something. It’s easy to flap your gums and talk, but actually doing something is harder. It takes more determination and dedication to actually do something.

When I tell people that I write, so many tell me that they want to write a book. They then go on to tell me about their very unique and exciting life. They’re certain that a book all about them was destined to be a best seller while changing lives.

So, I ask them how’s the writing going? Each and every one of them says the same thing. They haven’t started yet, but they’re about to. They’re just waiting to put their thoughts together. To have more time. To get this one project out of the way so they can concentrate.

I smile and wish them well, knowing that there’s very little chance that they’ll ever start their book. Why do I do this? Because there’s miles between wanting to do something and actually doing something. Intent and desire is one thing, but doing the hard work is another. It requires daily dedication and effort to do more than just get started.

When the writer quotes this verse from the Old Testament[1], they’re telling the Hebrews something very important. Something significant for them and their lives. Something that will change how they react and respond to the terrible persecution they’re going through.

You see, it’s one thing to complain about being hurt. It’s one thing to tell everyone just how hard life is. It’s one thing to share about being persecuted, being chased from one part of the Roman Empire to another. It’s one thing to describe the physical and emotional pain that you’re going through.

Yes, all these things were very real. I’m not making a joke about being arrested or tortured. There’s nothing funny about having all your things taken and your bank account emptied by your enemies. But there’s something more important than communicating this.

And that one thing is living through it. The day-in, day-out experience of holding onto God and his promises when you know what’s coming. When you remember what it was like the last time and you know it’s coming again. And again. And again.

This is exactly what Jesus did. There was no mystery about his life or his future. He knew what was coming when he went to Jerusalem that last time. It wasn’t like there was a good chance that he’d be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. It wasn’t the roll of the dice that they condemned him to death. It wasn’t just some possibility that they would hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified[2].

And yet, what did Jesus do? He didn’t back away. He didn’t try and hide. He didn’t just talk a good game of doing God’s will. He didn’t plop down into his cushy recliner and lean back. He didn’t channel surf to think about something different, anything to take his mind off it.

Not at all. He actually did it. He obeyed. Period. There was nothing passive or laidback about his doing what God the Father wanted. He actively kept doing it. At each and every opportunity, he did what God would do. What God wanted him to do.

Funny thing about obedience, it’s never about what we want. Obedience is always, always, always setting aside what we want to do and following the directions and will of someone else. That’s what makes it obedience.

So, when it comes to making decisions, who are we going to listen to? Who are we going to obey? Whose direction and will are we going to actually do? When it came to Jesus, the answer was and always will be God the Father. That’s the one and only right response to the one who loves us. Who moved heaven and earth to bring us back to himself. Who paid the highest price imaginable to remake us into his sons and daughter.

Noodling Questions

• What’s the best thing that could be said about us? Why?

• How do our priorities change what we do? Give examples.

• Why is the idea of obedience looked down on so much today?

[1] Psalm 40:6-8

[2] Matthew 20:18,19a