I love the following cute story titled “DO IT NOW!”
The head of a small industrial company posted “DO IT NOW!” signs all around his office and plant in the hopes of getting better results from his workers. Some weeks later, when asked why he was suddenly removing the slogans, he said,
"It worked entirely too well… The bookkeeper skipped with $20,000; the chief clerk eloped with the best secretary I've ever had; three salesmen asked for raises; and the workers in the factory joined the union and are now out on strike."*
Obviously, not necessarily everything we consider doing should actually be done. Nonetheless, most of us don’t have any problem in making bad decisions. In fact, if you are like me, you find yourself all too often making bad decisions or at least taking bad steps.
In fact, what I tend to put off are the right decisions; and what I tend to hesitate on are the right steps. Accordingly, I can relate all too well to the Apostle Paul who once said:
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:15-19, NIV)
No wonder then, that later in that same passage, He asked this question: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (7:24, NLT)
Of course, he knew the answer to this question, which he is merely asking for rhetorical purposes; and he stated that answer clearly in v.25: “Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Thus, like Paul, I am thankful for Jesus Christ, Who not only delivered me from the penalty and the power of sin, but Who also gave me the Holy Spirit to empower me to do the things I can and should do while overcoming the impulse within me to do the things I should not do.
I hope you have the same testimony this day. If not, perhaps you should investigate what all Jesus Christ can do for you.
And for those who do know Christ, let me offer another challenge this day. The calendar states that today is June 1, 2012. The new year God gave you back on January 1, 2012 is now exactly half over.
Six months ago, God gave you a new opportunity to get some things done. He also gave you the power to get started doing them. What have you done with this opportunity and with this power?
If your answer is “Nothing much” or “Nothing yet”, then why not get started today? Why not just “DO IT NOW”?! After all, it was this same Apostle, Paul, who said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, KJV)
*SOURCE: http://www.emailajoke.com/jokes/clean/random-jokes.asp?p=29
The head of a small industrial company posted “DO IT NOW!” signs all around his office and plant in the hopes of getting better results from his workers. Some weeks later, when asked why he was suddenly removing the slogans, he said,
"It worked entirely too well… The bookkeeper skipped with $20,000; the chief clerk eloped with the best secretary I've ever had; three salesmen asked for raises; and the workers in the factory joined the union and are now out on strike."*
Obviously, not necessarily everything we consider doing should actually be done. Nonetheless, most of us don’t have any problem in making bad decisions. In fact, if you are like me, you find yourself all too often making bad decisions or at least taking bad steps.
In fact, what I tend to put off are the right decisions; and what I tend to hesitate on are the right steps. Accordingly, I can relate all too well to the Apostle Paul who once said:
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:15-19, NIV)
No wonder then, that later in that same passage, He asked this question: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (7:24, NLT)
Of course, he knew the answer to this question, which he is merely asking for rhetorical purposes; and he stated that answer clearly in v.25: “Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Thus, like Paul, I am thankful for Jesus Christ, Who not only delivered me from the penalty and the power of sin, but Who also gave me the Holy Spirit to empower me to do the things I can and should do while overcoming the impulse within me to do the things I should not do.
I hope you have the same testimony this day. If not, perhaps you should investigate what all Jesus Christ can do for you.
And for those who do know Christ, let me offer another challenge this day. The calendar states that today is June 1, 2012. The new year God gave you back on January 1, 2012 is now exactly half over.
Six months ago, God gave you a new opportunity to get some things done. He also gave you the power to get started doing them. What have you done with this opportunity and with this power?
If your answer is “Nothing much” or “Nothing yet”, then why not get started today? Why not just “DO IT NOW”?! After all, it was this same Apostle, Paul, who said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, KJV)
*SOURCE: http://www.emailajoke.com/jokes/clean/random-jokes.asp?p=29