By Michael Ellis
TBC President & Pastor, Impact Baptist Church, Memphis
Michael Ellis
In 1968 Philip Knight, a former track athlete at the University of Oregon, and his college coach, William Bowerman, each invested $500 to form and stock their own shoe company, Blue Ribbon Sports. They later had their logo designed by a college student for $35. As a result of Knight and Bowerman’s “just do it” attitude their company, which is known today as “Nike,” became the top selling athletic apparel company in the United States. Their company’s slogan “Just Do It” is known all over the world. Two simple guys did it.
In a world where over 70 percent of the population is lost, I am confident the church has the divine ability to reach the lost for Christ with a “just do it” attitude.
The Apostle Paul encourages his readers to believe that followers of Christ can do all things through Christ who strengthens everyone who puts their trust in Him (Philippians 4:13). A “just do it” attitude will display a confidence to the world that in Christ we are more than a conqueror at whatever we do. Paul starts this passage of Scripture with a personal pronoun and ends it with a personal pronoun. He then strategically places Jesus in the middle. In order to be successful at anything we must intentionally have everything we are attempting to accomplish wrapped around Jesus. We are challenged to always believe that all things are possible, even in the midst of what appears impossible situations. A “just do it” attitude encourages believers to face every experience in life with the realization that in our extremes or in God’s opportunities — in Him — we can do it.
The possibilities of what we can do are unlimited when Jesus is the core (center). The core is the central or most important part. I have come to the conclusion that everything God’s people attempt to accomplish, achieve, conquer, or overcome must start with Jesus in the center.
With Jesus as the center of your life you can “just do it.”
— Ellis is president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and pastor of Impact Baptist Church, Memphis.
