Walk of Life – Day 3 – July 2021 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs – Be Diligent
BE DILIGENT TO DO GOOD
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Proverbs 3:27
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:32 to 35
The picture of the early church is so beautiful. Just imagine the scenario. They all had one heart and one mind. They shared all that they had. I love this phrase “There were no needy persons among them.” Today in the middle of a pandemic, its time to wake up. If it is in your power to do good, please do all that you can. It is a commandment…it is not a choice.
Good works is not just good deeds. It encompasses your whole life and personality…being a person of honesty, integrity, humility, and one who is faithful in whatever he/she does. It is important to remember that good works do not save us. We are saved by the Lord Jesus. Once our lives our rooted in the Lord Jesus we bring forth fruit and that is good works. Jesus went about doing good. Everything He did was good…He walked goodness, spoke goodness, lived a good life. He had compassion on people, cared for people, healed people, helped people, He lived a life that honored the father.
Good works are an integral part of God’s eternal plan, and therefore they are our highest responsibility. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). “[Christ] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).
Just think of a day in the life of the Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry. He woke up very early when it was still dark and spent time at the feet of His heavenly Father. The Savior of the world needed to spend so much time on His knees to fulfil the will of His Father. He laid such a beautiful example for us. A life that imitates Christ should begin at the feet of the Lord Jesus, meditating on His Word, spending time in prayer with Him. Then Jesus was very bold and took a stand for the right always. He healed on the Sabbath. He did not follow laws blindly but prioritized love and compassion above the Law. He drove out the money changers, he had a fiery passion for His Father’s House. He was not afraid of openly criticizing the Pharisees and Sadducees for their double standards. He spoke in public boldly and was very straightforward and honest. He did not turn down anyone who came to Him. When a whole crowd of people were waiting to stone an adulterous woman, Christ just said, whoever is without sin among you, cast a stone and no one dared. He forgave us…the greatest love that Christ showed for us while we were yet sinners. Christ forgave…on the cross He forgave the thief, He forgave those who condemned Him, He proclaimed forgiveness for all of us. If you want to learn goodness, look at the cross. The Son of God tortured and tormented yet with eyes of love and forgiveness turns and looks at Peter, with compassion tells the dying thief, today you shall be with me in paradise, with care for His mother tells John, Son behold thy mother. He is the embodiment of love, a personality filled with goodness and good deeds…
Imitate Christ…He is our role model. Do all the good that you can do for you will never pass this way again!
Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can. John Wesley
Every time you do a good deed, you are going to shine the light a little further in the dark. And the thing is when you are gone, that light is going to be shining on pushing back the shadows.
Charles de Lint
