As Christians, our entire experience resides in the space between “I can’t” and “God can.”
As Christians, our entire experience resides in the space between “I can’t” and “God can.” So – question of the day – how do we make the most of our actions while leaving room for Him to take action?
I’m not sure there’s a step-by-step plan to accomplish this, but after a week of feeling pretty unsuccessful at everything I attempted, I keep coming back to the same concept: lordship.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that many of our conversations eventually find their way around to this topic. I think it’s because that’s one of Satan’s biggest plays on Christians: He can’t change God, so he works overtime to get us to change how we see God, which inevitably impacts our willingness to obey God.
Luke 6:46 says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say.” Lordship is obedience, so wouldn’t the inverse also be true? A lack of obedience implies a lack of lordship. And your enemy knows that full well.
How do we make the most of our actions while leaving room for Him to take action?
But this stream of consciousness still doesn’t answer the question of how we exist in the tension between “I can’t” and “God can.” The more I think about it, the less I’m convinced that there’s an answer to this. It might just be one of those faith things.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).
I think about this verse every time I have to do something that I really don’t want to do. But I think it makes a different impact when viewed in light of this verse in Romans: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28).
Now, since we’ve been gathering for these chats for a while now, you probably already know how I feel about taking scripture out of its context. I’m not a fan of cherry-picking verses to suit our needs. Oftentimes, this cheapens the impact of the passage. But every once in a while there is a truth that comes forth even in the isolation of a verse.
A lack of obedience implies a lack of lordship.
I think that’s what we have going on in these two verses. First of all, there are plenty of similarities here, not the least of which is the fact that both Colossians 3 and Romans 8 are meant to describe life after conversion. They tell us who we are in Christ and how we ought to behave.
Colossians 3:17 says whatever you do – as in literally anything… everything… whatsoever ye shall do – do it for Jesus. Those things you don’t want to do? You’re doing it for His glory, not your comfort, so do it anyway.
Getting up at 5:00am to workout instead of sleeping in? Do it without complaining so that you can honor the Lord in the stewardship of your body.
Changing diapers instead of climbing the corporate ladder? Do it for the Lord.
Climbing the corporate ladder instead of changing diapers? As unto the Lord.
Whatever you do, do it for Him.
Not sure what your next step should be? That’s ok too. Walk by faith, without fear, trusting that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are pursuing His purposes over their own agendas.
Satan can’t change God, so he works overtime to get us to change how we see God, which inevitably impacts our willingness to obey God.
Inevitably we will come up against something that we can’t do. Or a decision that we don’t know how to make. There absolutely will come a time when we don’t know what action to take. But I think He gave us something for those moments too.
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27.
“God, I don’t know what do here.”
Whatever you do, do it for the Lord.
“I’m scared that I’m making the wrong decision.”
I will cause all things to work together.
“I think I know what should happen, but I don’t know how – this feels impossible.”
I am the Lord; is anything too hard for me?
Well, when you put it like that…
Our God is just intimately acquainted with us as He is sovereign over the whole earth.
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