Godlythinking         

Choosing To Do Good

Everyone prefers to be respected and be able to live without any kind of trouble inflicted upon them or fall victum to decisions affecting your life that have no concern for what happens to you. Good things are beneficial for achieving goals or the desirable outcome. However, evil things throws a monkey wrench at men and women who are trying to get things done in a timely manner.  Having someone do good to you is a pleasing experience and shows that someone really cares for you.

 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11

When the thief comes, he leaves everything in disarray and ruin, destroying memories and violating the sanctity of your home.  The thief does not have to take the things of value with him, but he will leave you with emotional distress that you have to deal with in the weeks and years to come.

On the other hand when a deed benefits your life that deed is something that you will cherish the rest of your life. Jesus comes to give us life to the full, which may be hard to fathom, but he brought a way to live that we could use eternally. Good deeds are something you appreciate and often feel obligated to return. Because this practice is continued over a lifetime, you will reap the love you have sown.

The good shepherd came to lay his life down for everyone who would accept Christ’s death as the atonement for the sin of the world. The purpose of his death was to provide a way to eternal life that would benefit all of mankind regardless of who they are. Prior to Christ’s death man was unable to live without sin or find a sacrifice suitable for the punishment of sin that God would accept.

Jesus became the Lamb of God perfect in every way and acceptable to the demands of God’s justice.  On the cross he took on the sin that we committed and died carrying our sin into the lake of fire. He endured the sin of mankind so we would not perish in eternal death separated from God.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3

We have a promise from God.

 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

And another promise,

They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.  I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. Jeremiah 32:38-41

These are promises made to those who have entered into a covenant with God by proclaiming that Jesus is Lord. This covenant requires man to love and obey God for we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Jesus Christ was our role model as he routinely did the good works. He healed the sick, he gave money to the poor and he did things to comfort the pain and suffering that he saw around him.

All in all the attributes that describe the nature of God are strengths that men benefit from. They are strengths that build self-esteem and relationships through sharing with what one has or can do for another.

God is compassionate                    God is life                           God is my rock

God is faithful                              God is love                          God is our salvation

God is forgiving                            God is merciful                   God is our strength

God is generous                            God is mighty                     God is righteous

God is gracious                             God is mighty to save         God is Spirit

God is greater                               God is moral                      God is truth

God is just                                   God is my help                    God is your refuge

In addition God uses these skills and attributes not for evil purposes but to do good. His choice is to demonstrate love in a social and moral manner in such a way that his decisions do not harm others. For example,

 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. John 15:10

Notice that God’s is defined in a specific manner. God’s choice to demonstrate love in a social and moral manner is the agapao form of love and his choice not to harm anyone is found in the agape form of love.

NT:26 a)ga/ph agape (ag-ah'-pay); from NT:25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially plural) a love-feast:  KJV - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.  Strongs

T:25 a)gapa/w agapao perhaps from agan (much) [or compare OT:5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense):  KJV - (be-) love (-ed). Compare NT:5368. Strongs

God’s love is spiritual, not physical in its nature and his love is characterized with good deeds.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

From man’s perspective anything that is favorable, pleasant, to his liking, is done well, is right in his eyes, and the best you can do is good. When we consider God’s nature and what he demands of his children, we must also consider that not one of his commands encourages a behavior to do evil. Rather, God’s word teaches us to not to respond to our sin nature and say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. His commands reflect a way to live in a holy manner that also produces his righteousness.  

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

This verse summarizes the difference of good and evil that effects all life. Evil is a source of suffering, injury, destruction and the consequences from evil deeds. These deeds are things  that man and women throughout the world absolutely consider wrong.  God teaches us that evil will rule your life but you have to be in control of your life to do good deeds. Most people like to think that they are in charge of their life but on judgment day God will judge your deeds. Deeds determine your outcome when you allow your sin nature to rule your life, but if you do good deeds approved by God the outcome will be in your favor.