Doing Good

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In the book of John Jesus also said:

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Right after he said this, he healed a man from blindness.

This thought came to me a few months ago, and I have continued to wrestle with it: Everyone who is alive - every single person - is a possible redemption story. I think if we draw breath, God is pursuing us, desiring to give us love and eternity. In a complex, difficult world it's hard for me to come to grips with this idea - but I can't let go of it.

So what does this mean?

I have an obligation to do good, all the time, whenever I can. It's what I was made for. God has given me his spirit and it needs to come out. If it doesn't, I'm "keeping my light under a bowl".

Paul wrote:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God, help me in my daily battle with selfishness. It's easy for me to see the good should do, but it's hard to do it. I want to see every person I know as valuable and worth doing good to.

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Sundays | God will set things right – I want to join him

- For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever

- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God

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