Goodness and Mercy

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Hebrews 13:16

When we do good, good things happen.  This is how God’s plan for us works as we read in Romans 8:28.  But some days it seems it is almost impossible to do this.  Everything may seem to line up against us and we get caught up in our own troubles and temptations.  But as Christians, we try to be more like Christ each day we live and doing good was the way Christ lived.  He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and was friendly to those whom the culture of the time considered unclean and unworthy.  Think of how much better this world could be if we truly and faithfully followed Christ’s example.

I often hear people say that you can go to Heaven if you just are basically a good person and treat other people well.  But then they also will ask why you are going out of your way to do good things for people, that you will get used and are a pushover.  But God asks us to do good to others in so many places and in so many ways in His word that we come to understand that goodness is His nature.  And since we are made in His image, it is in our nature as well.  We are to do good as much as it in us, even to our enemies, regardless of how they treat us in return (Luke 6:27-36, Romans 12:20).  He wants to do good in our community and help create a better world (Matthew 25:35-40).  He wants us to do good to one another so that we can all work together to further His glory (Galatians 6:2).  

There are so many ways to do good for other people.  We all have some talent that we can use to help others and we need to use them to the best of our ability.  God doesn’t ask us to solve all the world’s problems, He just asks us to do what we can and be an example to others.  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  You never know how practicing goodness to others is going to affect peoples lives but we can do our part to be a part of God’s plan.  Start today!