Do Good

Do Good
The Psalmist writes,

“Trust in the LORD and do good; 

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” 

                                                          Psalm 37:3.

Here is something we as Christians should be doing. Trusting in God and doing good. This is what we should be remembered for.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Here in North America many times Christians are remembered for what they are against or who they have attacked or for who’s rights they are trying to take away or for their political stance. This should not be so.
In terms of eternity it dose not matter what a government or anyone else says or does. God will one day bring everyone to account including Christians.
What does matter is that Christians, those believe in Christ Jesus trust in the Lord and do good. The apostle Paul writes,
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."Romans 12:18.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
That being said I think it can be safely said that all Christians. All those who believe in Christ Jesus would want to live in peace. Would want others to do good toward them.
The reward for living in peace with those around you, is that we will enjoy safe pasture. A place where we can tell others of the Love of God and the salvation God offers through Christ Jesus. Which is exactly what Jesus expects of all those who believe in Him.
Please think about it.

Do whatever is good

Do whatever is good
The apostle Paul writing to Titus states,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,  to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. Titus 3:1,2.
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  Romans 13:1,2.
The Apostle Peter states,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.   For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.   Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2:13-17.
1/Here is something that all believers in Christ in 2017 need to remember.
2/Be subject to rulers and authorities.
3/Do whatever is good.
4/Do not use freedom to cover evil.
5/Fear God honour the King.
            Both Paul and Peter make this clear.
The apostles Paul and Peter lived in an ethnically diverse society. A society that had a myriad of beliefs and gods. A society that had things that would have been morally reprehensible to what they believed. Yet these men of God tells believers to be subject to the governing authorities.
In doing this we can never be accused of speaking against the government or any other group. Our hands are if you will clean of any wrong doing against the governing authority or any other group.
The only time we should speak out against the government is when they refuse to let us or for that matter any other group practise our faith.
Peter tells us to “live as free men, but do not use your freedom to cover up evil.”
We should always remember that freedom is precious and not to be used to speak evil against anyone.
It comes back to the words of Christ who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Please think about it.

Do Good

Do Good
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  
As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:13-17
Here are some points to ponder.
James warns Christians not to leave God out of our plans. It’s good to plan, however we should remember that we do not know what tomorrow brings. All our carefully laid plans can come tumbling down around us in a moment. All of our boasting and bragging coming to nothing.
Boasting and bragging as James says is sin. We should never boast about what we are doing or what we have done.
We must remember we only have, and we only have done what God has allowed us to have and to do. Thus we must be humble about what we do and give God the glory.
Our live as James tells us is but a mist. It is fragile and can end in a moment. We must remember to use our life to do good.
James tells us,
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
When I was a teenager before I gave my life to Christ, the Musical “Good by Mr. Chips” came out. It’s theme song has stayed with me all these years because the words made sense. The words are,

In the Morning of My Life

“In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?”

                                                                     Leslie Bricusse                                                                                                          From the Musical Good by Mr chips  
John Wesley the great Methodist preacher wrote,

Do all the good you can,

By any 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.
As Christians yes we can plan for the future. However it is imperative that we always include God in those plans.
It is also imperative that we do all the good we can in this world. As the writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 Hebrews 12:14.

Please think about it.