ACTION

But be DOERS of the Word, and not HEARERS only, deceiving yourselves – James 1:22

Yesterday’s meditation ended with the Instruction that we must be both Declarers and Doers of God’s Word in order to enjoy the Sweetness of Accomplishment in life. Today’s meditation is therefore a Call to ACTION. Many of us KNOW a lot of things, but ACT minimally from our rich Knowledge Base. The Lord Jesus offers us this Principle of Action: “If you KNOW these things, happy are you if you DO them” (John 13:17). Your actions should be commensurate with your Knowledge. The same principle recurs throughout Scriptures: “But be DOERS of the Word, and not HEARERS only, deceiving yourselves” (Jam.1:22). And “to him who KNOWS to do good and does not DO IT, to him it is sin” (Jam.4: 17). It is not the mere hearers, but the DOERS of the Word that are truly blessed!

Corresponding Action is the proof of Faith: “...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead...” (Jam.2:17). If you do not do it, you do not really believe it. Life is made of constant Calls to ACTION. There is a prime place for ACTION in the realization of every dream. Shaespaare wrote, “Nothing can come out of nothing.” There can be no output without input. He who has done nothing need not hope on anything. TO DO nothing is the way TO BE nothing. Every manifestation of Good Success carries a price tag; you must be ready to pay the price – Action – in its various shades and forms (Jos.1:8). Success takes good ideas that are put into Action. Brendon Francis said: “Inspirations never go in for long engagements. They demand immediate marriage to Action.” Delayed inspiration becomes dead on arrival. It is best to scratch Opportunity where it itches.

Getting what you want from life is not always easy, but it can be done through A-C-T: Achievement, Courage, and Tenacity. Achievement begins by defining your desires and setting goals. These may sound simple, yet most of us hardly ever take time to identify and write down our goals; or if we do, they are of the New Year’s resolution status that we never really plan to achieve. To establish goals; to set a reasonable duration for achieving them, you must relate your goals to your resources, including the Resource of Faith in God. Ask yourself what is realistic; and factor in your Faith in God (Heb.11:1,6). That’s where Courage comes in. Successful leaders have the courage to take action while others hesitate. Then add to Action and Courage, Tenacity of purpose. ACTION subdues FEAR! Taking action is a vital part of our relationship with Christ. Satan often takes advantage of those believers who choose passivity instead of action.

Action is a demonstration of faith in God and trust in His word to accomplish great things for the Kingdom. The faint-hearted, fearful, and doubters will always struggle with taking action; but there’s hope for those who are courageous in their Christian walk. Prayer should never be an excuse for INACTION. Most prayers are only going to be answered when you attach action to them. You are judged by your ACTIONS, not by your INTENTIONS! You cannot build a reputation on what you’re going to do. Let your good intentions be always followed by appropriate actions. A thousand words will not leave so lasting an impression as One Seed planted. Action is the natural fruit of Direction. Some people spend their whole time searching for what is right, but they cannot seem to find time to practice it. Once you receive clear direction, follow with appropriate action. Some individuals dream of great accomplishments, while other stay awake and do them. To only dream of the kind of person you will like to be is to waste the person you are. Your life story is not written with a pen, but with your ACTIONS.