As I had my devotions, I was puzzled when the Lord told the blind men to be silent and tell no one what He did. They did the opposite. “And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country” (Matt. 9:30-31). What did they do? They told everyone they met. I found eight times the Lord made the same statement, “Tell no man” (MT 8:4;16:20; MK 7:36; 8:30; 9:9; LK 5:14,8:56, 9:21): Everyone of them did what they were told not to do. “Don’t,” – they did.” Well, it seems that if you tell someone “don’t,” they instantly have a driving desire to do it. You say, “It’s a secret so don’t tell anyone.” What do they do? As one person said, “Listen good the first time, because I promised not to repeat it!” This definitely works with children. Say “Don’t” then it seems they have a driving desire to do it. It seems they don’t do the dos and do the don’ts. Other examples: Don’t touch. Don’t walk on grass. Don’t date that girl or boy. Don’t text and drive. Don’t forget to fasten your seat belt. One man said, “Up till ten years old, I thought my first name was “Don’t.” God told Adam, “Don’t” eat of the fruit of the one tree. What did he do? He ate! Sometimes as I drive, I see a dead animal on the road. I say, “Don’t look!” What happens? Everyone looks! Ugh! Again, it seems “don’t” creates a strange universal driving to do the don’ts. Notice: Dos don’t work, but don’ts work! Was the Lord wisely using reverse psychology, or did He just know human nature? Don’t do it so they would do it.
Hmm! Think about it! What if we used don’t, as the Lord used it, to get people to do it? What if husbands said, “Don’t fix fried chicken, biscuits and gravy”? What if wives said, “Don’t help with dishes?” What if mothers said, “Don’t eat your veggies.” What if missionaries said, “Don’t pray for me. Don’t support me.” What if pastors said, “Don’t come to church, don’t tithe, don’t read your Bible, and especially, don’t love one another.”
Well, the title is, “Don’t read this article.” Did you read it? Ah ha! My point is made! I said don’t and you did. One man apologized because he tried not to read it, but he did. One woman said, “For some strange reason, I just had to read that article.” So I now tell you Christians, “Don’t witness to others about Christ, don’t be a blessing, don’t serve God, don’t go to church, don’t be faithful, don’t pray, and don’t read your Bible.” Don’t do it!
Well, I close with this final “don’t.” If you are without Christ, “Don’t, don’t, don’t be saved!” “Don’t believe and receive Christ” (John 1:12). Well, did you do it anyway? If you did, I forgive you, and so does the Lord. Now, “Don’t… Don’t tell others!” Don’t send this to others! – PS: Don’t post this on your Facebook! Don’t do it! Again, hearken and heed my final warning. “DON’T DO IT! DON’T – DON’T – DON’T!
