Make it your life mission to 'do all the good you can'

JOHN WESLEY

Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.
John Wesley

A pastor acquaintance of mine posted this online and I thought, why not share it? How could anyone argue with John Wesley’s message?

Many pages of the New Testament share episodes in Jesus’s life that deal with doing good by people. Seems to me that Christ’s focus was doing good for and to the people his Father created.

Probably the most recognizable is the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37. You probably recall that a man who was injured was ignored by several “godly” men, but the despised Samaritan opened his heart and his purse to care for the stranger. I would recommend that you pay particular attention to the last couple verses of this Gospel entry, and notice how Jesus describes the Samaritan’s actions – “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Certainly the example of the Good Samaritan is the ultimate act of doing good for another human being.

Jesus also did good by a group of lepers, cleansing them of that terrible disease, another incident that Luke recorded for posterity in his Gospel, Chapter 17:11-19.

Again, notice that only one of the 10 who was healed came back to thank Jesus, and he was a Samaritan – verses 15-19 read, One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then [Jesus] said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Notice, if you will, that neither account condemns. Both, however, praise the actions of the Samaritan men – one by telling a man of God to “go and do likewise,” and the other by explaining that “your faith has made you well.”

It's all about doing good, right?

And Jesus did good for all. He did not discriminate. He did not admonish. He did good because that was His Father’s will.

Shouldn’t we adopt this attitude of good-doing and loving and sharing with one another? Shouldn’t we, as followers of Christ, do good for all people at all times?

As one who daily tries to take up my cross and follow Him, Luke 9:23, I sincerely believe Wesley’s message of love and caring and doing good is exactly what Christ had in mind as he traversed the land of the Bible spreading the message of grace through His life’s mission and, ultimately, His resurrection.

Interestingly enough, one dictionary definition of grace reads: mercy; clemency; pardon.

God granted all of us His grace, His clemency, His pardon, if only we would believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

What better way to be a follower of Jesus than by doing His bidding, by loving one another, by forgiving one another, by helping one another, by doing good by, and to one another?

Food for thought, don’t you agree?

Today’s Prayer:
May God bless each and every one of you every single day in every possible way. And may we always find an avenue to do good for and to one another. Amen

Editor's note: Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references on this blog are from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible.

Whether you agree with them or not, pray for our leaders

The Apostle Paul pens a letter.

Yesterday our pastor’s message stemmed from Romans 13:1-7 (NIV) where the apostle Paul admonishes the faithful to accept the governmental rulers as those established by God. I have to say I take issue with this passage and the minister’s interpretation of it, which is, basically, why I am blogging about it today.

Although I am by no means a biblical scholar, I do know in my follower’s heart that a morally bankrupt government should not be honored and should never stand in victory over the children of God.

We also need to better digest this message by putting it into context, understanding that Paul’s letter to the Roman believers was penned during the era of the Caesars. An era where one of those hung on a cross and killed beside Jesus because he was a thief, yes, a thief – not a murderer or a rapist or a terrorist – a thief. Christians were likewise murdered for their beliefs. Have you ever read the story of Stephen, the first martyr for Christ? You can find his biography in the book of Acts, Chapters 6 and 7, and, specifically, his stoning in Chapter 7, Verses 54-60.

I believe that when Paul wrote about submitting to authorities he was not just writing about following the law of the land; he was writing about doing what is right in the eyes of God, not just in the eyes of man.

I, in no way, shape, form or fashion believe that Paul was saying we should condone killing an unborn child (the law of the land – Roe v. Wade) or accepting one of the most recent Supreme Court decisions – that anyone can marry anyone with no legal, or moral, recriminations.

Consider verse five, which reads – “[Therefore], it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” My conscience has a real problem with both these law-of-the-land decisions. Does yours?

Now I ask you, how can any Christian, with a clear conscience, excuse such behavior as abortion or homosexual “marriage”? How can any Christian submit to any authority that not only allows these distasteful acts to happen, but actively supports them through healthcare laws and “spousal” privileges?

Peter, one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, justifies the civil disobedience of Jesus’s chosen by telling the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 NIV)

Of course it is not up to us to judge those who would actively defy God’s law. We are to pray for them and reserve condemnation and judgment for God. As Jesus said, and was recorded in Luke 6:37 (NIV) “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned…”

Even so, Paul did share Scripture’s purpose for correction of evil in 2 Timothy 3:16-17(NIV) where he wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Mentally, I know God requires rulers to fairly govern the people he created and to support an avenue for proper justice for wrongdoers.

After all Paul did pen in verse three, “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”

But I also know that God uses unfathomable circumstances to draw us closer to Him. Remember how the churches were filled after 9-11?

Many times in the Old Testament God allowed the forces of evil, the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians – to name a few, to punish his chosen people. He did so for the sole purpose of forcing the Israelites to return to the God of Abraham, the God of their fathers, the One, the True, the only God of the universe.

Perhaps today’s ruling class is just like those idol worshipers of old; a class of evil so vile our only hope is in the God of the Bible?

As we sat in the sanctuary, my husband (co-author of this blog) and I were collectively shaking our heads at the inference that this government of ours was God-appointed.

In fact, Charlie expressed his doubts to the pastor after the service. Pastor told him that even if we disagree with the current leaders of our great nation, we still have to pray for them.

I’ll end today by agreeing with the direction pastor shared with my husband. And maybe even accepting the fact that this administration is God’s tool to bring us closer to Him.

Seems I have come full circle as I wrote this blog post this morning. Amazing! The Lord does work in mysterious ways, and by forcing me to dig further into the Scriptures, I now understand more clearly Rev. Andrew Manwarren’s Sunday morning message.

I know that we must pray for our leaders today and every single day. Paul directed this as well in his first letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

And now I am sharing this prayer (edited) from the A Spiritual Journey for Healing website…

A Prayer for Leaders in Your Life

Dear Heavenly Father,

I stop and think of those who are leaders in my life...
in my church…
in my home...
in my work...
in my country...
in the world...

Perhaps there is someone I find it hard to think of with love. 

I hand over to you any anger or fear I feel. In this moment, I send them love.

However I feel about them, in this moment, I see your love flowing through me to them. 

Dear God, I ask you to feed these people on your wisdom and your understanding,
for their good and for the good of all they serve.

Let them recognize and take the authority that is theirs to take, remembering that the authority bestowed on them is not of man but of God.

Thank you God for guiding them in your way every step of the way.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

And, may God bless each and every one of you every day in every way.

Ask God for your new heart

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

A few months ago I came across a phrase that has stuck with me –

     “For a new start, ask God for a new heart.”

I asked myself if I had asked God for a new heart when he saved me from my sins. After all, I confessed a relationship with Jesus when I was saved, but did I actually ask the great God above for a new heart – a heart devoid of malice and hate and envy and so many other afflictions common to a sinner’s heart?

Perhaps today is the day to take an inventory.

Really cannot say that I hate anyone, although I have come close to feelings of hate many times in the past, especially in dealing with local government “officials.”

Malice? According to the dictionary, malice is the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness. Cannot say my heart is guilty of that either, although, I, again, have to admit to coming close to feeling this way, but never close enough to act on these malicious impulses. Case(s) in point – Sept. 11, 2001, the Benghazi raid, the Paris bombings…

Then I thought about the envy part. I am not in the habit of coveting others possessions, so that probably does not apply to me either.

Then I thought, maybe asking for a new heart is something else entirely.

Unfortunately, when I look back, I have to admit asking for a new heart was probably the last thing on my mind as a 13-year-old girl making her way to the altar to ultimately ask Jesus to come into my heart.

So why did I make that, supposedly, life-altering journey?

In the 50 years since that encounter at the altar at Patterson Park Brethren Church, I have come to the realization that I did not ask nor did I receive the heart Jesus prepared for me by His sacrifice on the cross so many eons ago.

Why then did I travel to the altar?

I thought I was going to the altar to be liberated from my sin and my sinful ways, but perhaps I was not doing either.

Maybe I made that trip down the aisle to look saved. Maybe I made that trip down the aisle to be a part of something bigger than myself. Maybe I made that trip to make my parents proud of me.

Whatever the reason at the time, I now believe that it definitely was not to take Jesus into my heart. That trip was a self-serving commentary on what I believe is a sinner’s ultimate sin – accepting Jesus, but denying His influence in my life.

Many times since that fateful day, I have professed Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but, again, have I asked Him for a new heart?

Today, I am asking; today, I truly want Jesus to come into my heart; today, I want that new start; today, I want what Christ's death on the cross signified; today, I truly want to be saved; today I want to recommit my life to Jesus; today I pray this Prayer of Salvation and today, I mean it with all my sinner’s heart –

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

Yes, a new heart and a fresh start is a whole lot more than I originally thought. It is, in the words of Rev. Kyle Idleman, 'becoming a follower of Jesus, not [just] a fan.'

Is today the day you ask for your new heart? I sincerely pray that is the case, and invite you to take this journey with me. Ask the good Lord above to put Jesus in your life and the Holy Spirit in your heart.

But, I would caution (borrowing from our church bulletin):

1. The decision to follow Jesus is costly, so it must be carefully considered. Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 (NIV)
2. The decision to follow Jesus is urgent, so make it soon. Jesus said, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" Luke 12:20 (NIV)
3. The decision to follow Jesus is worth it, so you want to make it. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)

 

As my prayer today, I offer the Priestly Blessing God used to bless the Israelites. This blessing was given to Moses to share with Aaron and his sons, who were the Jewish priests during the time of Moses and beyond. You can find this blessing in the book of Numbers, chapter 6, verses 24-26 (NKJV):

“[May] The LORD bless you and keep you;
[May] The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
[May] The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

AMEN