True obedience involves doing some things, and not doing other things. The truly spiritual person (in Jesus) only wants to do those things that please his or her Heavenly Father; and he or she desires to avoid doing the things that displease Him.

The words of the title for this treatise (above) were addressed to King David; and they came from the lips of Nathan the prophet, as they are found in 2 Sam. 7:3 (as well as in 1 Chron. 17:2). Nathan also added this reason (for David to “do all that was in [his] heart”): “…For the LORD is with you.”

On various occasions, during some of my sermons, I would preach these kinds of words to the faithful Christian church members gathered on those Sundays—That, “IF you believe in and love the Lord Jesus Christ with all your hearts, minds, souls, and strength—THEN, you should, ‘Do whatever it is you want to do.’ “ I would explain, that what I mean, is that they could/should “do whatever they wanted to do,” because everything they “wanted to do” would be in constitutional accord with all the will of God. (This does not mean that they would do all of these good things perfectly.)

Conversely, my doctrine would be: “IF you do not believe in nor love the Lord Jesus Christ, do not do what you want to do.” Of course, I knew (and know) that sinners (and even sinner/saints) are going to “do whatever they want to do,” (as much as is within their power; and their perceived self-interest)—whether I tell them to desist from doing it, or not.

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