This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2007 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.
Just Do It
By Rev. Greg Johnson
Matthew 1:18-25
In the business world, proper company branding is vital to growth and success. A company brands itself with a logo and a slogan. That logo and slogan becomes the trademark and the goal of the company is to get each customer to identify with its brand.
I think one of the best examples of a company in our day that has successfully branded itself is Nike. Nike’s logo, the swoosh, is recognizable all around the world. It does not matter what language the customer speaks, they know that the swoosh points to Nike who sells athletic shoes, equipment and apparel. Nike has grown to dominate that market. They have successfully branded their self. And they have adopted the slogan “Just Do It”. In other words, it’s not about what you say, it’s about what you do. You can say you are the best runner or golfer, but words are cheap. Just do it.
How do you respond to God and His message to us in our day? Be challenge today to just do it.
Our paragraph of scripture on this Sunday prior to Christmas challenges all of us to just do it. (Matthew 1:18-25 NIV) "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. {19} Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. {20} But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. {21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." {22} All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23} "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." {24} When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. {25} But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
JOSEPH’S RESPONSE
God sent an angel to appear to Joseph in a dream with a specific message that gave Joseph detailed instructions. The message was to take Mary as his wife even though the baby she carried was not his own, but Gods. Notice Joseph’s response. Joseph responds to God’s Word not by thinking, analyzing or debating; he just did it. Joseph could not have possibly understood what all of this meant. He just simply did it. He did what God’s Word commanded him and he took Mary home as his wife. From this point forward as you see the Nike swoosh, remember Joseph’s response to God’s Word.
YOUR RESPONSE
This all brings us to a wonderful conclusion of our own. How will we respond to God? How will we respond to God’s Word?
God loves you so much, He sent His only Son to die for your sins so that you can have eternal life. That is what Christmas is all about; Jesus coming into our world to be our Lord and our Savior. Jesus is calling you to fix your eyes on Him and to follow Him; to submit to His Lordship of your life. How do you respond? Do you put it off? Do you think about it? Do you analyze it? Do you debate it? Or, do you just do it?
Just do it!
Know that you are loved,
Greg Johnson
www.GAJohnson.org
Founding Pastor
Loving God Fellowship
www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational Christ following fellowship with a revolutionary new church plant in Salem, Oregon, and a worldwide Internet church community @ http://www.LGFinternetChurch.org .
