John Wimber, one of the founders of the Association of Vineyard Churches, once said. “It’s not enough to be Biblically literate; we must also be Biblically obedient”. As I sit here this morning sipping my morning mud with hazelnut creamer, I have to ask myself, “Am I just biblically literate, or am I being biblically obedient?”

I know I am biblically literate. I have been Bible college trained, spent 32 years studying God’s word, spent years reading other theologians and christian authors on various subjects, but am I biblically obedient? That has given me cause to ponder.

What is biblically obedient? I, like I am sure all of you would first think that it is about holiness and staying away from sin. But honestly, was the purpose of God when He sent Jesus, just so we could work hard on staying away from drugs, alcohol, sex and fist fighting? Really? If that is the case, then no wonder the world thinks that Christianity sucks and is the religion of boring little old ladies.

What does it mean to be biblically obedient? Well to me it means to be obedient to what Jesus said to do, not to just what not to do. You see, the Christian life is not about “not doing” things, but about “doing” the things that Jesus did. John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

What did the Father send Jesus to do?

In Luke chapter 4 we read this.

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Doing these things is what it means to be biblically obedient! Telling the poor and downtrodden the good news that their condition is not caused by God, nor is it punishment from God but that there is hope for tomorrow when they know Jesus. Healing those that have had their heart ripped up by all the things in this life. To let the drug and alcohol, sex and gambling addicts know that there is freedom and that they can be free from those things that are chaining them like slaves. ect ect ect.

Have you ever prayed for someone and seen God heal them physically or emotionally? Have you ever led someone to Jesus and see the hope and release in their teary eyes? Have you ever fed the poor and seen how much it meant to them? Have you ever sat by the bedside of a saint ready to go meet their King and friend? Have you ever let people know that God is not mad at them? That is not boring little old lady stuff! That is Jesus stuff! It is awesome and exciting!

I tell you what. Although there has been times when I have done more Jesus stuff or at least it seemed that way, than I do now, just thinking about doing it, and what God has done in the past, makes me motivated to be biblically obedient. How about you? Are you ready to start Doin the Stuff?

Now that is something to think about!

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