A Simple S.M.A.R.T Way DO What the Bible Says
When we read the Bible, we can move from just knowing it, do actually doing it, by asking ourselves, “If these words from God are true, how could I practice this? How could I live it out in my everyday life? How could I obey it?”
Why is obeying the Bible important? First, it’s good for us. It’s in our best interest to DO what God says.
Jesus told a story about a wise man building his house on a rock, instead of sand.
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Second, obeying God’s word shows that we really do love Jesus—and loving Jesus comes with his purpose, power, and presence.
While walking and talking one day with his followers, Jesus breaks the news to them that he’s leaving them soon. But when he does, he says he'll give his friends who love him a few supernatural perks—purpose, power and his presence. The chance to do greater things than he did. Anything they ask in Jesus name. His Spirit as an advocate to God on their behalf. Jesus says to his friends, “If you love me, do what I’m teaching you. If you want these things—purpose, divine power, my constant presence in you—then obey me, because you love me” (my paraphrase from John 14).
Yes, we’re called to love people and love God. But that tends to get a little vague.
So if we want to really get around to doing love, we could try to simply be S.M.A.R.T. about it—Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely.
We’ve heard the variations on this business acronym for goal setting, but here’s my version:
Is your obedience Specific? (Can you say what exactly you plan to do?)
Is it Measurable? (Do you know how to tell when you’ve completed it?)
Is it Action-Oriented? (Is it something you can do. I mean, is it a verb?)
Is it Realistic? (Is it actually possible?)
Is it Timely? (I’ve heard that if we don’t do it in the next 24 to 48 hours, it’s likely we won’t do it).
For example, if we read “If you love me, obey my commandments” in John 14:15, we might decide to look up all the phrases with action verbs in Jesus’ teaching, so that we know what commandments he's talking about to obey.
Is that Specific enough? Yes, it's a goal or task that's clearly defined.
Is it Measurable? Yes. I’ll know I’m finished when I have a list in front of me.
Is it Action-Oriented? Yes. It’s something I’m doing, not just a vague notion like “I’m going to obey Jesus”.
Is it Realistic? Yes. I can do research and make a list this week.
Is it Timely? No. I haven’t decided when I’ll do it. I look at my calendar and see that I have an hour slot at noon on Friday with no interruptions. I put it on the calendar so I won’t forget to do it then.
So we can DO the Bible, and not just KNOW the Bible, by being S.M.A.R.T. about it.
Try it with the next scripture you read. Let me know how you practiced it! It’s going to be a good story. An adventure doing something with Jesus always is—especially when we're not legalistic about it but we've also asked God first, "How do you want me to DO this passage?"
PS: Do you have friends from strategic countries to read the Bible with? Check out this free downloadable GUIDE: Ten Ways to Make Ten Friends From Unreached People Groups…Right Where You Live…During a Pandemic.
