What Are You Doing Today?
The question which heads this article could have multiple answers. This can possibly depend on what day this is asked, of whom it is asked, or the context in which it is asked. Of course, we all have daily activities, and on various days these may differ. There are also some activities which should occur every day. Hopefully, we all participate in certain daily things that promote good health like brushing teeth, cleansing our bodies, and taking general care of these earthly tabernacles. We seemingly often do these things without giving them a second thought. Of course, we always have choice regarding what we will do day to day.
There are also some things which should be attended to daily, especially by those who are Christians. However, in prioritizing the activities of any given day, some of the more important things are sometimes relegated to a less important status and often become ignored or forgotten for the day or “put off” until a later time. Many today procrastinate like Felix did in Acts 24:25 as Paul “reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come”. Even as he trembled, Felix refused to do ‘today’ what he really needed to do for his soul. He answered: “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” If a ‘convenient season’ doesn’t present itself in a given day, what then?
Every Christian should look into the Word of God daily because this is the source of strength for the child of God. The ‘noble’ Christians in Berea of Acts 17:11 were more so than the brethren of Thessalonica, because of ‘daily attendance’ to Bible study. In their daily study, they received the Word “with all readiness of mind” and were strengthened as they did so. In Psa. 119:28 the Spirit had the psalmist write: My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. The servant of God needs spiritual strength on a daily basis.
The Spirit had Paul write to his protégé in 2Tim. 2:15 saying: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” I ask, should not everyone wish to ‘be approved’ of God daily? The obvious answer is ABSOLUTELY! It is equally apparent that ‘study’ and meditation on the Word helps a Christian remain ‘approved’ before God. Then, why do some Christians not study God’s Word daily? If more Christians would do more daily Bible study, apply what is learned, doing as directed in the Word, there would be far more ‘faithful’ Christians. If more Christians participated in diligent daily Bible study, there would be more love between Christians, a deeper love for God, and a greater adherence to what God has directed in His Holy Word. This should not be ‘difficult’ for us to do as 1John 5:2-3 shows. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Is not ‘study’ a commandment of the Lord? None of His commandments are grievous.
Sadly, many Christians expect God to strengthen them, and some ask Him in prayer to do so, yet themselves do nothing daily to be strengthened. The athlete has to prepare him/herself for the next contest by exercising their muscles and eating properly so they can have the strength and ability to win the contest. The person who desires success in a business endeavor puts “all they have” into reaching the desired goal. Why won’t some Christians ‘work out’ daily in the Word of God, or “put their all” into learning God’s Will and Way? Were not the brethren in Philippi told to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” in Phil. 2:12b?
Prayer is also important, but prayer is not a substitute for Bible study, exhortation, evangelism, or the “doing” of many other things a Christian should do on a daily basis in accordance with the New Testament. At the beginning of the church in Acts 2:42 we see these new Christians “continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Verse 26 states that all these things continued ‘daily’ and these brethren were “with one accord”. It is also a certainty that daily evangelism occurred as verse 47 tells us: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” There is not a single case of conversion in the New Testament that occurred without one being taught, them receiving the Word, and their obedience to the gospel.
As the first century Christians ‘daily’ exhorted one another, the likelihood for departure from the faith diminished. In Heb. 3:12-13 the converted Jews who were in danger of apostacy were told: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Should not each child of God encourage each other to draw closer to God in accordance with His Word daily so less fall or fall away? There’s plenty of ‘daily’ work to do. There is no reason why the child of God cannot be “renewed day by day” in the inner man (2Cor. 4:16). It depends on what they do each day.
Also, regardless of the day in which one reads this; it all still applies as every day is a day in which to serve the Lord. What are you doing today? Something to think about, isn’t it?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
