Last night I was talking with a friend about the church and its reputation in town, and at the same time we both said, “Unfortunately, we are known for what we don’t do.”
We did not mean that we should not be the voice of concern in this age of moral laissez faire. Knowing what we don’t or shouldn’t do is important. But should it be the outstanding characteristic of our Christian walk?
My goal in life is not to be known for what I don’t do, but rather for what I do. When people look at me, I want them to wonder what makes me different. I want to be known for my love, and my joy, and my peace. I want to be known for my longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).
Let us strive in our Christian growth to do the good works that God has prepared for us to do. The don’ts should not be done. But let’s make sure we are doing the do’s.
–Barbara Oliver @ www.forthright.net
Two related thoughts here:
1. Far too long church members have been lulled into complacency because we are told we cannot earn our salvation. Members fail to see a difference between earning our salvation by works of the Old Testament Law and obeying the commands of God because we love him. Our words and our actions come from the inner man (Matthew 12:34). Becoming Christlike is not earning anything.
2. Doing the “do” was possible for Pharisees (Matthew 23:28). Jesus points us to “what to BE” rather than what we do (Matthew 23:26). The inner man must first be formed (Col. 3:12). Our words and our actions come from the inner man (Matthew 12:34).
Keep the faith!
Barbara, what a super encouragement! It’s easy, in this age of fast everything, to forget that the Lord’s way is not about the outward man alone, but about the hidden man of the heart that CAUSES our outward actions to shine (Mt 23:26). A Christian’s “difference-of-the-do’s” doesn’t happen overnight. It’s what spiritual growth is all about, and I’m so glad you pointed that out. As I grow in wisdom, discretion and understanding, I change (gradually) to be slower and slower to anger (Prov 19:11, 14:29). As I grow in love, compassion, mercy, and humility, I become more and more selfless and thoughtful of others in my actions (1 Jn 3:16-18). Before our understanding changes to be like God’s (Is 55:8-9) we have no clue how to act any differently than the average person of the world. It just doesn’t occur to us. But as we study and understand the heart of Christ and his judgments better and better, we have our mind renewed in knowledge after his image (Col 3:10), to the point that we begin to “get it,” and can think like He does (Heb 5:14) We become TRULY different in our thinking, our inner man, and begin to do the “do’s” from the heart. There’s beauty in that, and certainly we’ll become that Light for what we do, and not just for what we don’t do. THANK YOU for your thought-provoking post and wise words. God bless you in your studies as you continue to have your mind renewed day by day.