“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of”—John 10:10 (MSG).
Have you ever asked yourself, “How did I get here?” When you’re lost, whether it’s physically, emotionally or spiritually, maybe it’s time to stop and reassess where you are. While reading a recent Q & A interview with author Bob Goff, I was intrigued with his response to the following question: “Why did you trade in ‘Bible study’ for ‘Bible doing’ and what’s the difference?”
Goff said, “I love reading scripture and find tremendous comfort and perspective in exploring God’s Word. However, I stopped going to Bible studies a while ago. Instead, I go to a ‘Bible doing.’”
Since I had never encountered the term, ‘Bible doing,’ I wanted to know more. Goff explains the concept by saying he spent the first couple of decades of his faith in Bible studies, getting together with others, reading the Bible and talking about what words meant in Greek and Latin. In addition, the group would discuss the customs, culture and surroundings at the time as well as the origins of certain words. As a trial lawyer by training, Goff was a man who memorized facts well. “So when I went to Bible studies,” he says, “I’d just memorize more and more facts about Jesus.”
Goff could tell you all about Jesus’ mom, where He grew up, what He had for dinner, every wedding or event He showed up at and how many boats were on the Sea of Galilee. However, he says, “Honestly, I didn’t know Him.”
Goff adds, “I think it was because we never actually did anything together. I was just too busy memorizing Him. What I realized is that I had become a lot like a stalker—someone who just collects facts and information about people they’re too scared to meet.”
What Goff soon realized is that “by just memorizing Jesus, I had actually turned into kind of a stalker. What I concluded is that Jesus doesn’t want us to just memorize Him. He wants us to experience life with and through Him.”
Since that day, Goff doesn’t do Bible studies. He still gets together with the same group but now they call it a “Bible doing.” He says, “The difference between the two is more than just a turn on a phrase. What we do now is read scripture and ask ourselves what we’re actually going to do about it. Jesus never asked His disciples to agree with Him. Instead, He told them to take all of the faith they had, all of the scripture they knew and go do something about it. We want to do the same.”
Although memorizing facts and scripture can be beneficial, if we don’t do something with our faith, of what value is the first? In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
Don’t just read and study. Begin “doing” the Bible.
Bible doing is so obvious yet so overlooked. Jesus said, “you say you love, yet do not do what I have commanded.” I printed out the 49 or so commandments of Jesus and continue to meditate on them. We are called to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. We are called to acts of kindness and lives of service. The time for study alone is over, now it’s time to do all that we are commanded.
Amen, Richard. You are so right. Thank you for stopping by to read my post and leave a comment.
Jesus is the Word of God. He wants us to know Him personally and do what we read.
The verse that resonates in my spirit, one that is very dear to me, is:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:22 NKJV
God literally says we deceive ourselves if we don’t ‘do’.
Amen, Christel. I love reading and meditating on God’s Word. I’m overcome with peace and joy and ask God to continue to allow me to do what He has called me to do…to use my gift for His glory. However, I cannot do that without His Holy Spirit. Thank you for stopping by to read and leave a comment on this post. For me, it is an affirmation I am doing what He has called me to do. In HIS grip, always! Carol