3-31-21 Be The Good

Be the Good :: By Holly Spate Published on: October 10, 2020 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles, Holly Spate Love. Be kind. Be respectful. Encourage. Help. Care. Be selfless. Do good. If everyone in our world practiced these things, how much more calm and beautiful would the world (and your little corner of it) be? People’s inability to put away pride, treat others the way they wish to be treated, show respect and kindness, are just some of what robs from joy and tarnishes good. It can make one feel hopeless, discouraged, ungrateful. It can drive one to disregard others or set one up for narcissistic selfishness. It’s heartbreaking to see so much discord in our world today. It’s frustrating to see the world spinning out of control. Everyone has within them the capacity to do good. Everyone has the choice to choose how they will respond, how they will conduct themselves. Isn’t it interesting that no one has to take a class to learn how to be selfish? Our own carnality and sinful nature drives our selfishness. And that selfishness is just one of many things that tarnishes the good if we don’t learn to get things under control. As we look around at the world around us, many may not see much hope today. For many, hope is fading because they’ve placed their hope in things that cannot save: government, money, status, people, or themselves. Many try to change their own hearts with self-help books, classes, mantras, etc. Yet none of these truly change hearts. Even those that do their best to be good people fall short because of sin. For those who may be reading this today… those who feel hopeless and dissatisfied, I have GREAT NEWS! There is hope. JESUS! Jesus is the only one who can bring hope, change hearts, transform lives, alter perspectives, and provide a new path. He is the only one who can provide a secure foundation. His death on the cross paid for all sin – past, present, future. All who believe in Him and ask Him into their hearts will be saved. He brings peace in the midst of circumstances, hope in the darkest of times, and joy along the journey. His presence enables His children to have the ability to be more forgiving, kind-hearted, grateful, less selfish. Jesus is the only way to a better, brighter today, tomorrow, and eternity. The world is quickly being stripped of sanity and decency. Like a roaring fire, the sins of man are being stoked while the flames and smoke rise higher. Sin is darkening the world, but thankfully the SON has never left. He is always there, shining bright no matter how dark the darkness gets. He is pure, holy, perfect. He is the light and is all that is good. He is the world’s greatest need and only hope. And He stands waiting to welcome the wandering home. If you are a believer, be thankful today for all of God’s promises and all that awaits you. If you have not asked Jesus into your heart, ask Him today. He loves you and is wanting to be the Lord and Savior of your life. Accepting Jesus into your heart will be the best and most important decision you will ever make in your life…that’s a promise. Our world needs love. God is perfect love. Our world needs hope. Jesus is our only hope. Because we each need encouragement today, find comfort in the verses that follow. And remember: Every day is a gift. Every breath taken is a moment to be thankful. Each decision is a choice, and you can choose to do right and be joyful. Whatever your blessings, be thankful for them and mindful of them. And as you journey, let Jesus walk with you and shine through you so you can be the good that the world so desperately needs. Have a great and blessed week! Encouragement…. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5). “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8). “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:5). “Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies” (Psalm 69:16). “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7). “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34). “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9). “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11). “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness” (Psalm 145:5-7). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). spate.holly@gmail.com