You do the right thing even if others do the wrong thing.
I thought I would expand my thought on doing the right thing.
My mother was right,
it takes courage, to do the right thing
even if others do the wrong thing.
Sometimes that means walking away from a place or a situation,
Sometimes that means standing up and fighting for the rights of someone else,
perhaps
even
when you are standing alone.
We must defend the weak or helpless and sometimes
that will cost us.
We might have to stand up to a bully
and may end up with a black eye ourselves.
We live in a culture where saying no is a rare thing.
But, perhaps, we need to say it more often.
No, Mr. Boss, I will not lie for you.
No, I will not cheat on my taxes even though everyone else does.
No I will not get a tattoo although it is the popular thing.
Group think is tiring and often causes the dearth of independence and creativity.
And saying no strengthens your backbone.
As Paul says:
"But I discipline my body and bring it into submission..." 2 Corinthians 9:27
This works for the mind as well.
We discipline our mind and body so that we may serve the Lord and be ready for battle.
This may be a battle for our own good conscience
or it may be a battle for the rights of another.
We, as frail humans, want justice here in this world.
That is not going to happen.
Ultimate justice and vengeance are the Lord's, not ours.
We are not to seek or pursue it.
We are not the sovereign God and do not know another persons heart.
Therefore, any judgment we would make would be faulty
and without all of the knowledge of another that the Lord Jesus has.
And about that burning coals thing,
the purpose is not to do kind things in order to control or manipulate another persons behavior.
We do the right thing so that we have a right standing with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not for any outward or manipulating purpose.
We give those blessings and the Lord will repay us with good.
Why?
Because if is a promise of His
and
He never breaks His promise.
We may not receive an earthly reward
but
we will receive one
when we reach heaven!
My mother was right,
it takes courage, to do the right thing
even if others do the wrong thing.
Sometimes that means walking away from a place or a situation,
Sometimes that means standing up and fighting for the rights of someone else,
perhaps
even
when you are standing alone.
We must defend the weak or helpless and sometimes
that will cost us.
We might have to stand up to a bully
and may end up with a black eye ourselves.
We live in a culture where saying no is a rare thing.
But, perhaps, we need to say it more often.
No, Mr. Boss, I will not lie for you.
No, I will not cheat on my taxes even though everyone else does.
No I will not get a tattoo although it is the popular thing.
Group think is tiring and often causes the dearth of independence and creativity.
And saying no strengthens your backbone.
As Paul says:
"But I discipline my body and bring it into submission..." 2 Corinthians 9:27
This works for the mind as well.
We discipline our mind and body so that we may serve the Lord and be ready for battle.
This may be a battle for our own good conscience
or it may be a battle for the rights of another.
We, as frail humans, want justice here in this world.
That is not going to happen.
Ultimate justice and vengeance are the Lord's, not ours.
We are not to seek or pursue it.
We are not the sovereign God and do not know another persons heart.
Therefore, any judgment we would make would be faulty
and without all of the knowledge of another that the Lord Jesus has.
And about that burning coals thing,
the purpose is not to do kind things in order to control or manipulate another persons behavior.
We do the right thing so that we have a right standing with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not for any outward or manipulating purpose.
We give those blessings and the Lord will repay us with good.
Why?
Because if is a promise of His
and
He never breaks His promise.
We may not receive an earthly reward
but
we will receive one
when we reach heaven!
Comments
Post a Comment