I think it’s safe to say that we all understand the vast difference in wanting to do something and actually doing something. Every time I venture onto the Groupon website, I foolishly allow myself to click the “Groupon Getaway” tab, knowing full well I won’t actually be able to take an Irish holiday, but I want to do it nonetheless.

In the New Testament, we meet a man who wanted to something – wanted to do the right thing – but ultimately, that’s not what he did.

Toward the end of Jesus’ life, He went through a mockery of a trial, ultimately leading Him to Pilate’s door. After examining our Savior, Pilate addresses the Jewish accusers in Luke 23:14-16 saying,

“You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”

Clearly, Pilate understood that Jesus wasn’t deserving of death. Verse 20 goes on to say, “Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.” Pilate wanted to do the right thing. Pilate wanted to release Jesus. Still, we know the end of the story: Pilate’s wanting to do good didn’t actually result in him doing good, and he ultimately delivered Jesus to His death.

Unfortunately, we can relate to Pilate all too well. Even the apostle Paul could relate to Pilate, for he said in Romans 7:19, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” How many of us have been there? Wanting to do good…knowing we should do good…but in the end, not doing good.

It’s a scary thought, because James says “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (4:17).” I for one don’t want to ever be guilty of sin (though I am far too often!). Instead, I want to guard my heart from the devil’s wiles and schemes, and one of those schemes has got to be keeping people from the good they know they ought to be doing.

So let’s decide together to stop letting Satan win. And really, that’s exactly what happens in those battles, isn’t it? When we don’t do the good we should – when we only want to do good and don’t actually do it – those are the moments when Satan has a small victory. May it never be again. Not in our lives. Not if we can help it. Instead, let us be people who are committed to always doing good, to everyone we come into contact with.

Whatever that looks like in your life, I hope you’ll do it. I hope you’ll see the opportunity for good to be done and be the one who does it, not the one who wishes they could. Whether that’s providing groceries for a family in need, clothing for someone who doesn’t have it, or paying a bill of a struggling widow in your congregation. Maybe that’s being a part of an auction for a brother and sister who are looking to adopt, or supporting a missionary who is struggling to make ends meet for the upcoming year. Don’t be someone who sees a need and wishes they were a part of it. That’s what Pilate did. He wished he didn’t have to put Jesus to death, but he still did. His wishing didn’t make any difference in the world.

Let’s make a difference. Let’s be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22).