God is good… God does good… all good gifts come from God… God gives and then gives when we’ve given… (Matt 7:11; Luke 6:38; 11:13; James 1:17)
“...we do not have what we desire, because we do not ask, and even when we do ask we do not receive because our motives are wrong - we want to spend what we receive on our own pleasures…” (James 4:2-3)
We are capable of doing good because God has made us and because we were like Him - His image and likeness… and therefore, we can do good. But, we must see that doing good is not the aim, even being good, is not the aim.
When we say good, what do we mean?
● Good
● Intrinsically good
● Good throughout
● Because good is good it has little need to “be” good or “do” good because good is good and cannot help but be and do good - because (like God, who is good, and because He is good can do nothing but good, good, is just, good)
Being good is communing with Jesus, who is in us - as we are His and He is ours - we are His people...
And so...
...we who are in Jesus, are now, good… and good is what we are, and good is what we do, because we are good…
So what does it mean when what we do is not good, or the heart from which our attitude, speech and behavior come is not good? Or, in good stead?
Practicing good - is the confronting, the exposing, of our mind and heart to what is good - that is, truth - the Truth, Jesus. That He and we might work out together whatever is still in my soul - my mind and flesh - that which is not yet good, or been submitted to Him and His goodness, has not yet been infiltrated and influenced by Jesus’ Spirit (of truth - John 14:17; 15:26; Eph 5:18; 1John 5:6)
So let us do good…
Doing good, is the exercising of the good that is in me, that I am, that I might become the expression of the good He is and I am, together - being under the influence of the Holy Spirit as to bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is the righteousness, the goodness of Jesus.
● Jesus’ person
● Jesus’ ethic
● Jesus’ morals
● Jesus’ love
And all of this, in us by Him and His Spirit and the Spirit of the Father.
Galatians 5:22, 25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 6:9-10 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Jesus, tired… (John 4:6)
Be present
Be aware
Be willing
Be able, by being prepared…
...in view of God’s mercy, in view God’s mercy - Jesus… (Rom 12:1; Heb 12:3)
Hebrews 12:3“Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”
...be generous - giving without expecting anything in return…
But, giving what?
He took his disciples away… Tired from the journey… He sat down… We get tired. Jesus got tired. Which is a student do though, it was we are good doing good. There are times when our souls desperately need to be refreshed, and in the midst of the refreshing, we are interrupted, I need arises, we are made aware of someone’s point of need… And we rise to meet it.
We are best prepared for these moments when we have spent time with Jesus. When we have kept her eyes and view of him, and his mercy, and all that he’s offered us and Dunn and us and for us and will do through us. We must be in constant communion with him
Take a moment, and consider where we are. Are we fatigued or tired? Is the Christmas season already seem to tap at seven? We are at in essence the halfway point. We look back and feel like it’s been going on forever, we look forward and feel like it’s never going to end. And if we remain in this state, our internal talk will be something like this please just let it be done let it be over. It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, we can take each day as it comes, And approach it with it on vigor. Present, willing, prepared and able, to meet the figures of the day for what it is and to meet the needs as they are presented. And in the meantime get glimpses of what’s to come as we accomplish each thing God has prepared in advance for us to do.
