Thinking Too Much

photo credit: Okko Pyykkö

“ Daydreaming about Allied powers Side effects Lopid side effects of lisinopril in ww1 something in Lithium battery cr2025 order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong.”

–Oswald Chambers

I believe that there are three basic categories of commands that we as Christians receive. They are explicit, implicit, and situational. The first two come from scripture and the last comes from our daily lives.  Let’s start at the end of the list and work our way to the beginning.

1.  Situational

Situational commands are the hardest to discern out of the three.  There are situations in our lives that come up where there is no prescribed correct way to handle them.  The Bible does not speak directly to these situations.  What are we supposed to do?  In this case we have to determine what God would have us do based on what we know of Him as revealed in scripture.  For example, we are told in scripture that is is good not to marry but that marriage does have a purpose.  Both ways of life are spoken of highly by God.  So, which is it?  And then on top of that, who, if anyone, are we supposed to marry?  Is it this person or that one?  How do we know?

This is a situation where we have to be in a close relationship with God and trust that He will lead us.  We have to take these situation by situation and it requires a daily walk with Him to do so.  As my pastor said it, “Obey what you know, and you will know what to obey.”  We know that we are supposed to have a deep and close relationship with out Lord and Savior and if we do that we will know what to do in situations like these.

2.  Implicit

Implicit commands are not directly spoken in scripture but they can be implied.  We are told in 1 Cor. 6:9 that people who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God.  It is easy to imply from this scripture that we are commanded not to practice homosexuality. 

Another example of this can be found in 1 Cor. 10:31.  The only two explicit things we are told to do for God’s glory is eat and drink but then we are also told “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  We have to take this and imply that it means that we have to watch movies to the glory of God, or discipline our children to the glory of God.  Implied commands can take some extensive study to understand.

3.  Explicit

Explicit commands are the most visible and easy to discern because they come very directly from scripture.  A great example of these can be found in the ten commandments.  Do not steal is pretty easy to understand.  The only way to interpret this is, don’t steal.  That’s it. There are no two ways about it.

This brings me to the explicit command that I want to talk about.  Jesus says in Mat 28:19-20 to:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

We are explicitly commanded to “make disciples”.  That means sharing the gospel with people.  Our witness before everyone is paramount.  Many times I find myself thinking too much on whether I should share with this person or that person.  There is no question in my mind that I should.  I am over-thinking whereby putting off what God has commanded of me.  There shouldn’t be a time in my life when I am not actively or passively pursuing people for God’s kingdom.  We cannot use the excuse that we don’t know if we should or not.  It is explicit in scripture that we share with everyone.  That is why we are here.

There are things that should take a lot of thought and preparation but this in not one of them.  Don’t think too much.  Obey God.  By doing this we show that we trust Him.

“(Contemplating) after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.”

–Oswald Chambers

 Brian