Doing Good

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Scripture


This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
(Titus 3:8 NASB)

 

Observation


Paul was writing to Titus and encouraging him and the people to whom he was ministering to continue to grow in their faith. This was a message to those who had already believed. They knew Jesus Christ and were willing to declare him as Lord, but Paul said that this was not enough. Their lifestyle was to change and they were to declare Jesus as Lord, but then they were to go and engage in good deeds. This would be the sign that they were believers.

 

Application


It's the season in which we like to do good. Christmas seems to draw this out of us and think of ways that we can help the needy this time of year. We drop some money into the Salvation Army kettle, we drop off "Toys for Tots" and we become engaged in putting together food baskets for the needy within our community. But Paul was saying that this was not just something that would be done from time to time, but that the result of faith in Jesus Christ was a change in one's behavior. Those who loved Jesus would become engaged in good deeds, not just from time to time, but as a practice for their life!

God calls us to be engaged with our world in reaching out to those in need and doing good deeds. As a follower of Christ we must ask ourselves on a daily basis how we can become involved in God's activity here on this earth, participating together with him in his good deeds. God knows where we can and should be used today. Too often it is the "Christians" who have been to church on Sunday (and we look like it) and then engage with the world and leave a bad taste in peoples' mouths. We are unkind to the person working in the gas station, we complain that the line at the doughnut store is too long, or we get upset at the waitperson at the restaurant for being too slow. The world sees mean and grouchy Christians and wants nothing to do with us. We need to tune into Jesus and his leading every single day so that we can be his ambassadors, showing his love to our world as we practice good deeds!

 

Prayer


Lord, please help me to practice good deeds with all of those I come into contact with today. Amen.

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