(This is Part 2 of a 2 part column.)
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Previously, we discussed the importance of “Doing Good!”
Why “Do Good?” Because Jesus taught us how to “Do Good!” He lived with immediacy on His mind, eager and intentional about healing and teaching and preaching and prophesying and blessing and feeding and saving others. Jesus came to show us the way by “doing good” for all whom He could, in all the ways that He could, for all the people that He could, for as long as He could.
Doing Good as we are living the Word liberates us and helps God liberate others. How we use our gifts, possessions, talents for the Kingdom matters.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Have you ever seen people who seem like God blesses whatever they set their minds to do? It’s because they keep believing God for more, lifting up the name of Jesus, even in the midst of suffering!
My godmother was an amazing example of one who lived most of her life in pain. She lived many years in excruciating pain. When I went away to college, she wrote me letters. I could tell she struggled just to write me. She would insert a $10 or $20 dollar bill, because she loved me and knew I needed her encouragement and her help. She was intentional about “DOING GOOD” even in her suffering. Her testimony is one of the main reasons why I am a pastor today. She lived the word daily by doing good!
The founder of my denomination, the United Methodist Church, John Wesley says, “faith is a set of practices that makes one live differently from the world.” He also said we should, “do all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, for as long as we ever can.”
We are far from righteous living when we think worship only occurs at church on Sunday mornings. Worship is what we do inside and outside of the church. It is a way of life. It includes intentionally, that is, doing what is good with a kind spirit and gentleness daily.
You might wonder, how can we do good in an evil world? We must focus on the cross, of Calvary, keeping our eyes on the life of Jesus, who suffered for our sins, the unrighteous, for all of humankind. The Righteous One, Holy Lamb of God, died for the unrighteous (you and me) in order to bring us into right relationship with God.
But that was not the end of the story: Jesus was made alive in the spirit, walked this earth on the Road to Emmaus and made several appearances, so we could be strengthened in the faith. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us. Now it’s time for us to put our Faith in Action, as my United Women of Faith say, by doing what is good for and with others.
As we learn more about God, I pray we move from last year’s glory to a higher glory in the Lord, deeper in our sanctification, as we allow God to use us mightily to care for those who need us: the lost, the poor, the marginalized, all those whom others shun — all of God’s children. God has equipped us for such a time as this.
Remember, James reminds us of the royal law: love our neighbors as ourselves. Remember, Peter reminds us to “Be Eager to Do What is Good even to Those Who Abuse Us.” Eager means excited, anxious, enthusiastic, and intentional.
Jesus came to save all of humankind, and Jesus rushed to do good. Jesus focused on righteous living all the way to the Cross of Calvary that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Thank you, Lord Jesus!
Because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us to lead and guide us in walking and talking as Christians should, let’s purpose in our hearts to look for ways to “do good,” because one day Jesus will return for us to receive us as His own and carry us to our eternal home. However, until that day, Peter says, “be eager about doing good,” and James says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and look for the reward, Blessings From God in this life and the next! In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
Sources: Three General Rules by Reuben Job, Bible Gateway, Barclay Commentary, and Living Our Beliefs: the United Methodist Way by Kenneth Carder.
The Rev. Edna Morgan is pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. Her husband, David Morgan, is a retired pastor in the Arkansas Conference, and together, they established a 501(c) (3) non-profit retreat center, Healing Place Ministries, in 2004, that serves the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County areas.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your name, phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.