We spend lots of time searching for God’s perfect will and wondering if we are fulfilling our God given path for life. A disciple should always pray to be at the very center of God’s will for his or her life. Sometimes we are not where God wants us to be and sometimes we are just not sure about this God’s will thing. Most of us have experienced those times where we seem to be in a hall way with a series of closed doors before us waiting for one of them to open so that we can get out of the hall way. Been there, done that as I am sure you have too. How do you respond while you are in the hallway? When you are waiting for the Lord to open the door are you still faithful?
Two verses have helped me during those times. One is Luke 9:23. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
This verse reminds us that the very essence of following Jesus is a daily commitment. It is 24/7. It is not just on weekends or just on Sundays or when we feel like it or when things are really going well.
Discipleship at its core is following Jesus daily.
Another verse, Acts 10:38, contains excellent advice for what we are suppose to do today and tomorrow even if we are in the hallway waiting for God’s next assignment or new direction. This verse gives us a specific, direct, and simple two word assignment plan for our day. The verse reads, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” NIV
Jesus went about “doing good!” Those two words can change the direction of your life. Today, I have lots of stuff on my “to do” list. You probably do too. Places to go, people to meet, yada yada yada. But the main thing I must accomplish today is to go about “doing good” in the same way Jesus did. Our actions and our words represent Jesus to people. That means there will be some divine encounters where the Lord will send some folks my way so that I might “do good” to them. It may happen in a restaurant or at the grocery store or on the ball field.
What do you go about doing? Complaining? Being negative or bitter? You know what the Lord wants you to do today and tomorrow…just go about doing good.
Churches should do the same thing in thinking of ways they can bless the people (do good) in their community. They must be intentional and think of new ways to bless and minister and reach people for Jesus Christ. In other words, to go about doing good on a daily basis. When people see us they should get a glimpse of Jesus in us.
Sylvan Goldman was intentional and invented something we use every week. In 1937 he observed that shoppers in his Oklahoma grocery store stopped shopping when their wicker baskets became too full or too heavy. So he got creative and intentional and invented our modern day shopping cart! Thanks a lot Sylvan!
Today, be intentional throughout the course of your day by “doing good.” You might not invent something that will change the world, but the Lord might change a person through your witness. God has called all of us to be a blessing to other people by “doing good” just like Jesus.
