Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should
Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
When I first started writing these devotionals, I had no idea what I was doing. Not so sure I do at this point either. I probably lost a huge audience just now. It’s not a reflection of doubt or confidence as much as it is an acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit at work.
It’s not any more clear to me now, than it was then. I write what is placed on my heart after prayer, or a thought, and I find scripture that can help the reader find their way.
A lot of these stories are personal, and I’ve found scripture that has taught me something through that experience. Sometimes, it’s scripture, that has brought me a thought, from an experience.
Either way, I’m so thankful for those of you that read these. I know, many times, they may not make sense. My hope is that one day you’ll remember one of my stories and it will remind you of what the Lord can do for you, because of what He has done in me.
I had someone tell me once, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”. When I heard that - it applied to so many things in my life, then and now. Good ideas to us, don’t always mean something is a good idea. Sure, you can pour a gallon of gasoline on a fire, but should you? Or you could eat a gallon of ice cream, but is that really a good idea? Sometimes, just sometimes, we shouldn’t do a lot of things, even though we can.
We listen to ourselves more than we would like to admit, and honestly, more than we should. The only reason we ask someone else for advice, most of the time, is for confirmation that we are making a good decision. And we have someone to blame when it all goes to garbage. I mean let’s face it, our idea or question, started in us. The only reason we go to someone else for advice is because we want them to tell us that we should. We don’t need anyone to agree with us, give us their opinion or warn us when we are about to screw up. Do we? Our human nature is to make sure we are doing it right. All of it. Everything. We don’t ever start out wanting to screw up. And along the way, we want to know we are doing a good job, didn’t fail and that everyone knows about it. And as much as we want everyone to believe it doesn’t matter, it does.
We should obey what God has laid out for us. We should strive each and every day to be more Christ-like in our behavior and attitude. This should be our Christian spirit. We are sinners and people should stop expecting perfection, especially us. I think every time someone hears the word Christian, they are secretly thinking - perfection. We are far from it - and in case you didn’t know - you are far from it too.
We can try as hard as we might, each and every day, to be good. And we won’t ever be, not as good as God anyway. We have to relinquish, or give up trying so hard to be something we will never be. But what we can be, is a follower of Jesus Christ. We can be an example. We can be an encouragement. We can be a disciple. We can unknowingly lead people to Christ through our behavior and attitude. When we try to fix ourselves or to stop our bad behaviors, or even try to be better on our own - we will fail. We have to let God do the work in us by turning to Him, and letting go of ourselves. So many people still believe that their way, absent God’s way, is the best way. Let me know how that’s going. Better yet, let me know how it turns out.
I say this all the time. This isn’t sitting on the couch, doing nothing all day and expecting a change in your life. It won’t happen like that. It is actively turning toward God and letting go of trying to fix yourself. You turn to God in prayer and by reading His word to us in the Bible. You go to church, you worship and praise God. You read your Bible and apply it to your life. And you pray to God, through Jesus Christ, giving thanks, submitting petitions, declaring sin and asking for mercy. You let go of your will for your life and submit to God. You do this as completely and as wholly as you can. Intentionally, reverently and fervently. Every single day. This will produce a change in you that you can’t control, but one that others will see. You can’t do it. He can do it.
It is so simple, yet so many people try and do it all on their own. They do things for a result. They think that they can affect the outcome. And they can’t. We can’t. This is the “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”. Just because you can lie, doesn’t mean you should. Just because you can cheat, doesn’t mean you should.
Just because you believe you can fix every broken thing in your life - doesn’t mean you should try. You really shouldn’t. People try to fix their marriages. People try to fix their addictions. People try to fix every single one of their problems. And over and over and over again, they fail.
I am not saying that you shouldn’t seek professional help. I am saying that if you are a Christian, you should consult God within your decisions. The Bible doesn’t say not to take medication. The Bible doesn’t say not to have a professional, make a clinical diagnoses of your behavior. The Bible does say that we should pray and come before God. Many times God will lead us out of many of our problems, addictions and struggles. The only time we will never know is when we never turn to Him, or when we give up.
So many times I watch and listen as people make suggestions and offer opinions that never include God. Yet He is the first one they blame when something goes wrong. People who don’t believe is God’s grace, surely what some when their life falls apart.
I have done plenty of stupid things in my life. I’ve lost count. I was reminded the other day, during a counseling evaluation, of the sin in my life. Most of the things I did in my life didn’t sound like a bad idea, at the time. Looking back and having someone analyze your life, compared to your life with Jesus, has no comparison. It was hard for me to look at who I used to be. It was even harder to talk about it with a complete stranger.
I was given credit for the change in my life that I don’t deserve. The only thing I did was recognize how broken I was and that I needed God to put me back together. During that struggle I tried many times to show God that I could do it on my own, only to be shown that I couldn’t. I am learning more each and every day that we are His children. As old, or young as we are, He loves us like His children. He extends us grace and mercy where we don’t deserve it, blesses and comforts us in times of need and comes to us when we need Him most.
As Christian’s, we are called by no other name. As such, we aren’t expected to go to ourselves any more. We are new creatures, who have to stop living like the old ones. It’s a struggle each and every day to not be the person I used to be. But it’s sure easier than it was. Each and every day that I live in Christ, and He lives in me - I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to do it. I give it to Him and He helps me get through it. This is the power of our God, Almighty.
So just because you can fix your problems, doesn’t mean you should. Turn to God, seek His face, fall on your knees and feel His love for you.
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
Titus 3:8
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Jude 1:20-23