Just Do It!

Do you remember the “Just Do It!” Nike advertising slogan that was coined back in 1988?  It was a very successful campaign that almost tripled Nike’s share in the North American sport-shoe business during its ten-year run.  Over the years, the popular phrase has also served as a sort of psychological ‘shot in the arm’ or encouragement for people desiring to step up and out of their comfort zones and try new things or reach new levels of expertise or satisfaction in various areas of their lives.

But while Nike coined the phrase in the late 1980’s, a quick search across the ages of the written Word of God, would show that the writers of both the Old and New Testaments had been talking about the importance of “Just Do It!” from Genesis to Revelation!

In most applications, the writer has either been speaking to the importance of our need “To Do” the Word of God or of God’s promise “To Do” for us that which He has promised us in His Word… as we step out in faith and obedience to the instructions therein.

This all came to my attention over the last few days as I was led back to a familiar verse of scripture in Jeremiah 1:11-12 when the Prophet was having one of his initial conversations with God… where God confirmed His calling of Jeremiah into the ministry of the Prophet of Israel.  As the Lord began to layout a vision before Jeremiah, He asked him

“What do you see, Jeremiah?” And Jeremiah replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.  (And) then the Lord said to him, You have seen well, for I am watching over My WORD to DO IT.'” (God’s Word © - The Scriptures 2009)

This portion of the Scriptures perfectly lays out God’s two-fold direction to “Just Do It!”

In the Greek translation, God’s action of watching over His word to “Do It” means “to do, to make, to construct or to fashion.”*  Thayer’s Greek Definitions describes this action as “to make a thing out of something”… and it directly points us to the definition of FAITH as penned by the author of the book of Hebrews in the well-known “Roll Call of Faith” in Hebrews chapter eleven.

The “something” from which God wants “To Do” for us is explained in Hebrews 11:1 where it states “Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not (yet) seen.” (KJV)  So therefore, it is clearly evident that God desires “To Do” for us… whatever we believe, confess and then take the corresponding actions of FAITH for!  James 2:17 tells that real FAITH is a combination of not only what we SAY we believe but must also include our corresponding ACTIONS that visibly demonstrate what we are believing for.

The word “watching” or “vigilant” in the Greek, means “to waken or to rouse (from a resting position), to cause to rise, to stir up and/or to raise up”** and leads the student of the Word to recall how the book of Acts described Jesus’ reaction from the throne room of heaven, when Stephen’s words and actions of faith led him to become the first martyr of the Christian church.  As the leaders of the Jews became more and more incensed with Stephen’s bold confession of the truth about Jesus, he suddenly looked up toward the heavens and it is recorded that,

“He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus STANDING on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man STANDING on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56 – KJV)

Mark 16:19 tells us that after Jesus completed His time on this earth, following His death, burial and resurrection from the dead, that “He was received up into heaven, and SAT on the right hand of God.” (KJV)  Therefore we observe that Stephen’s courageous, FAITH-FILLED words and actions before the High Priest, caused Jesus “to be stirred up and to rouse from a resting position” (seated at the right hand of God) and STAND UP to welcome Stephen home to heaven!

And thus, the Word demonstrates the two-part “Just Do It!” of God, that God prophesized to Jeremiah at the very beginning of his ministry.  When we “Just Do” our part in faith… God rises up and follows through to complete His “Just Do It!” on our behalf!  And this pattern is confirmed throughout both the Old and New Testaments!

It is a successful advertising slogan of God that is worth it’s weight in Gold… and it never goes out of style!  So… What are you gonna do?  Go ahead… Just say it with me:

“JUST DO IT!”

Have a great first full week of June… whether you’re enjoying the last days of spring in the northern hemisphere, or my friends beginning winter in the southern hemisphere!  Whatever the weather… Know that God is Good and wants you to “Just Do It!” so that He can “Just Do” His BEST for you!

 

*Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

**Strong’s and Thayer’s