Definitino of "DIY" - "Do it yourself"

We live in a world where it seems that most folks are into "doing it
yourself". We even have given the idea its own acronym, "DIY" and devote
countless television programs to the concept. I personally, love doing it
myself. It always gives me a great sense of accomplishment to complete a
project myself, rather than paying someone else to do it. I guess it is in
the "male genes", when our grandson was little he wanted to do everything by
himself, his standard phrase when he was beginning to speak was, "I do it!"

Doing it yourself is Okay for some things, the problem is however, that some
folks want to even carry this concept into their religious life. They want a
"do it yourself religion". In the last verse of the book of Judges we read,
"In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right
in their own eyes." (Judges 21:25, NLT) It's amazing isn't it as we consider
our world to realize, that in the past couple thousand years that people
haven't really changed! We still want to "do it ourselves," and at times
would prefer not to be accountable to anyone. An overwhelming number of
people want to do whatever seems right in their own eyes regardless of what
God or even our society says about it!

We need to impress upon those with whom we come into contact that: "Do it
yourself religion" is no more acceptable than developing a private "Do it
yourself code of morals and ethics".

Yes, God does expect our relationship to him to be on an individual basis.
He does hold us accountable as individuals for our choices concerning
morality and ethics in our lives, but these things are governed according to
guidelines which He has given us. Just having the right "spirit" in us is
not enough! Jesus said, in John 4:23 that God requires us to worship him "in
Spirit and in Truth". In other words, there are some things which are just
not pleasing to God. Just because we decide we "like" something or "want" to
do something in a certain way, does not make it acceptable to God.

Jesus said in John 12:48-49, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My
words, has that which judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him
in the last day. "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father
who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak."

Paul gives a stern warning to the young man Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3. Notice
what he says" "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to
right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for
teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear." In verse 4 he
continues: "they will reject the truth and be happy with made up stories."
(RL)

Jesus made a very important point in John 8:31-32 where we read: "Jesus said
to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep
obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free."

Let me encourage you not to worry about what other people in our nation (and
world) are doing. Rather, make it your "Do it yourself" project, to do what
God asks, no more and no less.

Russ Lawson