All the good it does...

Read Isaiah 64

"You welcome those who gladly do good,
    who follow godly ways.
But you have been very angry with us,
    for we are not godly.
We are constant sinners;
    how can people like us be saved?
We are all infected and impure with sin.
    When we display our righteous deeds,
    they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,"

The concept of being a neighbor, of being a "good" person, is alien to my natural inclinations. Yes, most people see me as a nice person, a "good" guy, but they don't see how I have to work at it. Inside, I'm a sarcastic, cynical jerk.

Just a few nights ago at work, a co-worker said something to me, and I immediately took offense. My first inward thought was; "Why is she being so nasty to me?" It started to rankle, but I had to force my own feelings aside. My thoughts then turned to "Is there something I have done that has caused a problem?" Of course, this was also a selfish response, because I was still thinking about me. When I did eventually say something, it was simply to ask if she was ok, because she didn't seem like herself. Do you know, she was so grateful that someone noticed? She had been in pain all day from arthritis and was really suffering. This allowed me to have an opportunity to truly minister to her.

This goodness is attributable solely to the work of God in my life. This is a multi-faceted work. As a disciple of Christ, there are many things that work together to help fight the natural inclinations that fight against the goodness of God. These factors include the impact of many Godly men and women (including parents), knowledge of the Word of God, and repeated time spent in prayer and meditation. It's not me, it's Him.

When we think of someone as a good person, we do not see their inward motivations. The prophet juxtaposes God's welcome for those who do good with the realization that our own goodness pales in comparison to the goodness of God Himself. His goodness is far beyond our ability to conceive, let alone copy.

But...

There is hope.

While in Romans, the Apostle Paul writes that all have sinned, in Ephesians 2:8-10 he clarifies that the gift of Christ, salvation through the blood is there, to enable us to do good.

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

See, like the Word says; "it's not me, it's Him."

What's in a name?

Read Acts 2:42-47

Christian.

We use the word a lot. We call ourselves by it. If someone asks what we believe, we say that is what we are. Are we?

The word started nearly 2,000 years ago as a slur in the city of Antioch in what is modern day Syria. It is literally translated; "little Christ" and was intended to mock the believers in the newest religious movement of the time. Over the years, it came to be embraced by believers as a badge of honor. More years passed and it's meaning has changed to a more ambiguous moniker for any person or group even loosely associated with a church. Many of us, especially in the west, who use the name to describe our faith, don't really resemble anything close to Christ Himself, not even a little.

For this reason, I personally don't prefer to refer to myself as a Christian. I know I don't deserve such a title: I just don't measure up.

The believers in the early days of the Church were active neighbors. This is, after all, the second greatest commandment; "Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself." They sold possessions and used the money to care for the needs of others. They shared what they had with those around them.

There are grand cathedrals in Europe which sit empty on a Sunday, or have been repurposed because no one bothers to go anymore. Here in North America, congregations of Bible preaching Churches continue to shrink. We're comfortable. We're Lot in a land of indulgence.

Lot lived in a land of selfishness, Godlessness, and excess. He was comfortable. His faith didn't spill out to those around him. He lost his home, his wife, and the innocence and integrity of his children. In the end, God spared his life, but even then he didn't really change.

So too do we live, surrounded by excess and indulgence, even surrounding ourselves with those who tell us what we want to hear instead of what we need. These voices tell us that we deserve to indulge, while the Christ of the Bible was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," who Himself said, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Religion isn't about what I can get, or how I can benefit. The Apostle James wrote that "pure religion" is to care for the less fortunate (paraphrased). James spends a good bit of time telling his readers not to elevate the rich over the poor, but here we are, doing just that in western society. For certain, having wealth is no sin, but loving wealth, as the Apostle Paul wrote "is the root of all sorts of evil."

If our faith is real, we will step out of our comfortable spaces, love our neighbors, and focus not on what we want, but what is best for those around us. Lot's failure wasn't that he didn't speak out about the excess and indulgence around him. Lot's failure was indulging in that excess. He was comfortable.

So, I pray that god will work in me so I can seek to touch the lives of those around me in a tangible way, not judging their actions since that is not my place, but rather showing them they are loved. In time, God will work to correct their self-destructive behaviors, but I am called to love my neighbor, to be a "little Christ", and to live a life of service, not a life of selfishness. I pray that others who may read this would be convicted in much the same way.

A Troubled Heart.

Read Psalm 34

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

I find the above to be poignant. In recent months expecially, It's been difficult to sleep at night due to a troubled heart. Those who know my situation are familiar with what troubles me and others can likely identify with the overwhelming sadness at watching a loved one destroy themselves.

In the passage referenced above, the psalmist, David, was on the run from someone who had at one time taken him in as family, his father-in-law; Saul. He had taken refuge in a foreign land, pretended insanity to escape harm from that land's ruler, and lived each day not knowing what the next would bring.

Yet, here he writes: "I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

    let us exalt his name together."

I wish I were that strong. I know that God promises He is with us through all the difficult paths of life. I know that He has a plan in all the troubles, so I hold these promises up and remind myself of them constantly.

I struggle with anger, hurt, frustration, and a host of other emotions. Yet, here, the Psalmist is in danger of his very life, and he spends each day praising God for His faithfulness. Though he could have thrown up his hands and given up, thinking this was his darkest hour, David instead continues to trust God to fulfill His promises.

So, I've been meditating on this passage, ruminating on it, keeping it in my thoughts. As the psalm continues:

"The righteous person faces many troubles,

    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;

    not one of them is broken!"