I Choose Today to Do

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

When someone is training for a job—any job—they can’t stay in the classroom forever. There comes a point when they have to move from learning to doing. What good is knowledge if it’s never put into practice?

The apostle Paul understood this, which is why—even from a Roman prison—he encouraged the believers in Philippi to act on what they’d learned. He wrote:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

Paul had spent time teaching, training, and loving the people in Philippi. Now, he was urging them to take what they’d learned and live it out. Faith wasn’t meant to stay confined to their minds or words; it needed to show up in their lives.

Jesus emphasized this same principle. He wasn’t interested in His followers simply appearing righteous or sounding holy—He wanted their lives to reflect genuine goodness and love for God. James, the half-brother of Jesus, put it this way:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” James 1:22-24 (ESV)

It’s one thing to know what God’s Word says, but it’s an entirely different thing to let it transform your actions.

The amazing thing is that when we take action—when we choose to do what honors God—we open ourselves up to His peace. This peace isn’t something we can manufacture on our own. It’s a gift that comes from drawing near to God and aligning our lives with His will.

If we know what God wants us to do but ignore it, we’re essentially saying that honoring Him isn’t our priority. But when we act on His will, our lives reflect that our identity is rooted in Christ. And as we walk closely with Him, His peace surrounds us, even in the most challenging moments.

So, what’s one step you can take today? What is God teaching you about Himself, about yourself, or about others? How can you live out those lessons in a way that brings Him glory?

Paul’s words are a great reminder:

“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 (NLT)

Faith is more than knowledge—it’s action. Let today be the day you choose to live out what you believe.