Nike has a slogan, “Just do it!”, good advice for us when we hesitate and question instead of just doing whatever needs to be done.
I often ponder the inadequacies of my faith and practice when I am engaged in “doing” my faith in God. My expression of gratitude for a meal seems so superficial when I consider the Father’s unceasing goodness and faithfulness to me. A quick bow of my head, a thought-prayer of thanks, and I dive into my food with a hearty appetite as if that were all I need to do in this routine of mealtimes! Is that the way to show my gratitude to God?
I do so many things as expressions of my relationship to my heavenly Father, wondering if what I do is acceptable to Him.
What is my alternative? Not to do them because they seem so paltry?
I can only offer what God requires from my humanity since I am still in this body on this earth.
How does God process my thoughts and actions from His perspective as the supreme and sovereign God? Does He brush my mumbled “grace” aside? Does He dismiss my efforts to show my love to Him by serving others as inadequate? Does He treat my heart’s desires for Him and His glory as an insult to His majesty?
David has answered my doubts and misgivings in his matchless song of praise.
Psalms 103:8-18 NLT
[8] “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. [11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [13] The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. [15] Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. [16] The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. [17] But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children [18] of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!”
Like a tender, loving human father, our heavenly Father receives and accepts our feeble, imperfect expressions of love and faith with fatherly compassion and understanding. What father would thoughtlessly toss aside the simple artistic expressions of love his toddler has scrawled on paper because they are not a “Michael Angelo” or a “Picasso”?
If our expressions of gratitude seem feeble, it doesn’t matter! Just thank Him anyway! If our acts of loving service seem bungled or incompetent, it doesn’t matter! Just do them anyway. If our obedience seem flawed by our attitudes, it doesn’t matter! Just obey Him anyway!
We have a Helper who is in us, understands us, and represents us to the Father. He takes our feeble, bungled expressions of thanks and perfects them for us. He translates our imperfect worship into acceptable adoration at the Father’s “feet”.
Romans 8:26 NLT
[26] “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
Once again, it’s David who gives us the correct way to express our gratitude to the Father.
Psalms 116:12-13 NIV
[12] “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? [13] I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”
The best way for us to say “thank you” is to eat the food God has provided without complaint. The best way to express our love to Him is to obey Him without question. The best way to experience our union with Him is to receive and enjoy all the benefits of His salvation with gratitude and prsise. The best way to honour Him is to call on His name, always, in every circumstance and situation.
Nike says, “Just do it.” However feeble and inadequate we are in our humanity, just do it! Our Father will always treat us with love, understanding, and compassion because He is who He is.