This is the second simple rule after the first: "Do No Harm."
And while “doing Good” is something we all can easily agree to, it comes at a higher cost than the first.
It begins with recognition that in order to do good, we must know right from wrong.
“You owe your conscience to God;
to one another you owe nothing but mutual love..”
(Letters of St. Augustine)
It’s the natural follow up to:
“But I say to you that listen,
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
The trouble starts when we actually start measuring our life against our hopes and dreams to “do good.”
And of course, we have all the excuses as well:
“It’s impossible to do good all the time!”
“I don’t know if what I’m doing is really right or not.”
“What if I do good and people abuse and/or misuse my gift?”
“I don’t like being called a ‘do-gooder.’
“I have too much on my plate already.”
However, we’re in luck. What’s impossible to us is possible with God.
We have God’s shoulder to rely on. We have the unstoppable, unconditional, no-strings attached love of God to refresh and renew us.
And ultimately, it’s our decision to do the good that God wants us to do. We don’t have to worry about what others think of us. We already know what God thinks of us.
That’s the message of the gospel, the ‘good news’ that Jesus Christ came to bridge the gap of loneliness between us and God. …That the love of Christ is more powerful than anything else. That we are a loved child of God and we know it!
In this love we can, in great gratitude and thankfulness, live out the scripture that says:
“Let love be genuine;
hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints;
extend hospitality to strangers." (Romans 12:9-10,13)
And in this way we live with this guideline:
“Every act and every word
must pass through the love and will of God
and there be measured
to discover if its purpose
does indeed bring good
and goodness to all it touches.”
- “Three Simple Rules” pg. 38 by Rueben Job
Are you ready to “do good” and change your life?
Can you catch yourself doing better at “doing good” each and every day?
How have you lived closer to God this day?
…this week?
How goes it with your soul?
Grace and Peace, Pastor Terry
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