Here are three phrases that make me instantly uncomfortable:

• New Year’s Resolution

• Fat-burning exercise routine

• Evangelical outreach

Now, I realize, that for some of you, these phrases may not raise your blood pressure in the same way they raise mine. But, dare I say, for the majority of us, we’re on the same side here. At least on one or two of those points. 

I have to ask myself: what’s the root of this discomfort?

• A feeling of being trapped in an obligation?

• Fear of failure?

• Fear of man?

Okay then, if it makes me that uncomfortable, why do I push myself to do it?

• Do I think I don’t have a choice?

• Do I feel pressure to do it?

• Am I more fearful of what will happen if I don’t do it?

Basically, I know there’s a certain thing I’m supposed to be doing, but due to my own understanding (or lack thereof), I don’t fully commit. Therefore, whether I move forward, backward, or even do nothing and just procrastinate, the feelings of stress, guilt, failure, etc., etc. – begin to grow. Anyone else ever get stuck there with me? (Hallelujah! I see that hand!)

God’s Word is powerful. So powerful that when He uses that conjunctive adverb “therefore” it changes the whole situation. The word is usually used as a big tip-off that there is a cause-and-effect clause happening here, but when the Lord uses it, there’s an extra element of power in there. So much so, in fact, that many Bible scholars emphasize that when you see the Bible use “therefore”, you should ask yourself, “What’s that ‘therefore’ there for?”

For example:

Ephesians 6:12-13

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The cause and effect of this verse are this: the struggles that are most detrimental to our earthly lives are not solely inflicted by other people; there are darker, spiritual battles happening that we don’t see. But are we left to be helpless victims? Not a chance! God gives us weapons and armour to defend ourselves, rescue others, and we can take the final victory with Him! However, what good is a shield if we don’t get behind it? What good is a sword if we don’t carry it with us into battle? Without putting on those all-terrain boots, how far across the wilderness will we get? While the active battle is revealed in the verbiage of this verse, the call for us to put on our armour and pick up our weapons begins with “therefore.” It changes a statement of fact into an empowering call to respond.

Take a look at some of these other famous verses and ask yourself, “What is the ‘therefore’ there for?”

Matthew 6:25 (NIV)

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Romans 8:1,2 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

There are hundreds – literally hundreds more! All of them using “therefore” to emphasize that God is not as concerned with the “what” we do, but rather with the “why” we do it.

Let’s keep looking…

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who put that one there?

That’s one of the things on my uncomfortable phrases list, remember? Evangelism and outreach stuff; that is outta my comfort zone! I mean, I can see this verse has a “therefore” in it, but this is different, I mean, where do I even start?

I don’t know how to start that conversation with people; what if I say something wrong? And I do want to tell people about Jesus, but I don’t want to be too “preachy.” Plus, I’m not a bible scholar or a counsellor or a pastor or even a Sunday school teacher! Therefore, I’m not an evangelist…

At least, that’s what my “therefore” is there for. Maybe I should take a look at why Jesus uses it:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

To really dissect this scripture, first, let’s look at verse 18:  Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. Every word He spoke, temptation He resisted, argument He set straight, miracle He performed, storm He settled, person He healed, demon He cast out, body He rose from the dead, and soul He forgave from all sin. He did that in the infinite, unbreakable, unchallengeable authority given to Him and Him alone – in heaven and on earth.

All that in the very first, brief sentence Jesus speaks in verse 18. But this is just the tip of the iceberg, because right at the beginning of verse 19 what do we find? You guessed it – it’s the “therefore!

Therefore, we CAN go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey, because of who Christ is! And do you know what else? Verse 20 says that Christ is always with us, right now, always, to the very end! Wherever we go, whatever we’re doing, in every situation!

When my focus goes from my “therefore” to His “therefore,” I’m putting on that armour, picking up the sword, and buckling up my boots.

And that’s how I ended up here; in a 99% Muslim country in the Middle East for the past five years. I work with a group that mails out Bibles to people who order one through our website. We ship it out then contact them a couple of weeks later to make sure they got it.

Conversations started. We share and discuss scriptures. In 2020, we baptized at least five people, one young lady I had the privilege of baptizing myself. It was something that I would have never had the opportunity – or even right – to participate in if it weren’t for the authority of Jesus over my life.

Ask yourself, what are your “therefore’s” there for? Then take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to show you what God says about it. Guaranteed He will shed light on what you’re here for.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!