Being Before Doing
I grew up as long as I can remember going to church on Sunday. I was definitely a rule follower for the most part. I did all the things I was supposed to do to look like a Christian. I knew how to say all the right words. I could pray a nice prayer that all the older folks like. This activity continued for many years until one day I wondered WHY I was doing what I was doing. I had started reading the Word of God and studying it on my own. I wasn’t finding the reason or logic behind all my “doing”. My “doing” made me look good and spiritual, but none of my “doing” was changing who I was becoming. Today I want to be a good man. I want to be known more for “being” than doing. I want to be knows for “being” in the Presence of God. I want to be known for “being” present with others. I want to be known for “being” a Christ follower not just known for “doing” Christian things. Asaph wrote a powerful Psalm about “being” before “doing”. Check this out….
14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15 Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.”
23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:14-15,23 NLT)
The verses before these are talking about all the sacrifices that the people of Israel had been doing to honor God. They were “doing” all the right things, but they weren’t “being” thankful. A few years ago, an event happened that changed the depth of my heart. I was so profoundly grateful to the Lord that my son was spared. I felt like my son should have died, but he recovered so quickly that it was hard to believe. I started “being” more thankful every day of my life. This passage affirms that the Lord loves my “being” thankful more than He loves my “doing” nice things. Please don’t misunderstand – I believe that I should do good things for the Lord and for others, just not BEFORE “being” in His Presence with a thankful and surrendered heart.
Pressing On!
Dwayne