Tag: Good

Posted on

An Innumerable Amount of People

MARCH 6

MATTHEW 5:19_and teach them…

Again, Jesus’ emphasis to keep the commandments includes and teach them. Jon Donne’s phrase “no man is an island” is true. There is nothing you can do in life which only involves you. Any decision you make will directly, or indirectly, affect the people God places in your life.

Sometimes those decisions will affect people you don’t even know. If you make the decision to drink and drive, and have no passengers, you may feel that decision only involves you. But if you are involved in an accident with one or more vehicles, suddenly other people are involved in your decision.

Any time you decide to do what is right or wrong, you affect the welfare and safety of an innumerable amount of people. If you make decisions in your heart not to steal, not to kill, not to commit immoral acts – your decisions make the world a safer and better place.

You teach others to do right either directly by words, or indirectly by influence.

The same is true about wrong. Genesis 3:17 (KJV), “And unto Adam he [God] said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it….” Not only were Eve, Adam, and the Serpent punished, but everyone who has lived since that day reaps the consequences of their disobedience.

PRAYER

King of Kings, I want my example in life to be for good. I want to make right choices for myself and help others make them as well. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                          

Christ is my example for good—He wants me to follow!

Posted on

A Natural Byproduct

MARCH 3

MATTHEW 5:19_and shall teach men so…

Jesus knows to live outside of Biblical principles brings heartbreaking consequences. He wants to protect you, not punish you. The punishment comes on its own – a natural byproduct when you make your own decisions of right and wrong. 

Jesus knows the world is too hard, too difficult, too deceiving for you to take on by yourself – so He gives you commandments to live by. These commandments are taught in the Old Testament by God’s chosen leaders and in the New Testament by Jesus and His disciples. Jesus knows even the least commandment is for your good. 

Jesus sees every tear you shed, hears every sigh of your heart, and knows every pain disappointments bring. He tries to save you as much pain as possible.

Suffering comes with life – period.  God’s commandments are a true safety to keep you from experiencing suffering unnecessarily. 

It is enough to bear the pain of having broken God’s commandment, but far worse is the guilt of having led others astray with you. 

PRAYER

Holy Lord, I don’t want to make my own suffering by breaking even Your least commandment. Let Your Word teach me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ knows all my pain—He wants to help me!

Posted on

The No-Goods

FEBRUARY 19

MATTHEW 5:16_glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

The fact that we are not good is the reason we need a savior. Eternal life cannot be purchased in any way, shape, or fashion. It is a free gift to no-good people – amazing, huh?

The final piece of Jesus’ teaching on light is the foundation not only of the light principle, but of the very purpose of life – to glorify God. That is the good work!

Every time no-good people feed the hungry (physically and spiritually), visit the sick (physically and spiritually), minister to the captive (physically and spiritually), and welcome the stranger, they do good works.

Every time no-good people do something good, God is glorified. Why? Because those works show God is The God of the Impossible. They show God’s purpose for no-good lives is to transform and use them – for good.

A power-packed light is shining – God’s amazing love. He gives love to the no-goods. This astounds people who are around us and involved in our lives. After all, they remember we were no-good! When they not only see us do good works, but may themselves be the recipients, they are amazed. They are overwhelmed with wonder, not of who we are but of who God is. And of what He can do in the life of a no-good!

  PRAYER

Holy Lord, I know I am not good, but I praise You that You can transform me to do good! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ’s love is for no-good people—His love is for me!

Posted on

You Are Not God

FEBRUARY 18

MATTHEW 5:16_that they may see your good works and…

Never feel your candle is too small. Just because you do not have some kind of world-wide ministry does not lessen your ability to shine.

First off, you are not God (whew!). You do not know the beginning and the end. You do not know the fullness of God’s plan. He always works on your behalf. God’s love for you has no boundaries. He is using your light in ways you have no knowledge of, or ability to see.

He is working while you are sleeping.

As long as you are not ashamed or afraid to shine,  you are doing a good work. That work is seen by people you know, and by some you may never know.

You may feel you have shed light for only a few, but upon who have those few shined with the light they received from your candle? Are you getting the picture? You do not always have to hold on to your light. The light your candle gives off leaves you and settles on another.

Good works are living out Jesus’ teachings through the Holy Spirit’s power by loving people. In Mark 10:18, Jesus says, “… there is none good but one, that is, God.“

I am not a good person, but my transformation allows me to do good by shining the love of God and serving others.

PRAYER

Precious Jesus, Help me trust You to shine through me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ’s light is seen in love—His love can shine in me!

Posted on

Light That Gives Out

FEBRUARY 14

MATTHEW 5:15_Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel…

What is the point of lighting a candle, or lamp, or even a match, just to hide it? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Remember the purpose of light? It was mentioned twice in the previous devotion – to dispel and overcome darkness!

If you lit a candle and covered it with a solid bushel container, what would be the result? Once air could no longer feed the flame, the light would be snuffed out. If the container were some kind of basket which allowed air to seep through, the flame could continue to grow, possibly catching the basket on fire. Neither the snuffing nor the fire has a positive result.

In both scenarios there is potential for the light to stray from its purpose. In the case of the basket the good light can turn into a destructive fire. If you are a charismatic person, but not a salty disciple of Jesus, you can use the charm and persuasiveness of your light to lead others into various forms of bondage.

In the case of the solid container the light which was intended to do good, gives out of air and does nothing at all. If you are a politically correct Christian, who fears the love of people more than the love of God, your light gives out.

  PRAYER

Holy Jesus, Help me to keep my light shining for Your glory. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.               

Christ does not hide His light—He uses it for my good!