So last time I was talking to you about the difficulty of doing good. As I was thinking more about this topic I came across this quote from Charles Spurgeon that really got me thinking. What does he mean when he says that? You can go and read the whole thing yourself if you’d like. I’ll put a link to the full sermon at the end of this post
We think, if we read Scripture rightly, that no work can be good unless it is commanded of God.
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, March 16, 1856, by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
Ephesians 2:10New International Version (NIV)
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
When I read these two things together I am struck by one very powerful thought. Doing good works is not just a suggestion or a good idea. Good works aren’t just the things that I included in my last post. Look closely at the verse from Ephesians. It tells us that God Himself prepared for us the good works that he want us to do. It sounds to me like these things are pretty important to Him if that’s the case.
So when my selfishness or my lack of courage or confidence causes me to pass up an opportunity to do good works that puts me into a pretty bad spot. Follow me here if I don’t do the good work that is presented to me I am being disobedient. As I sit here thinking about that my heart is sinking. I know without a doubt that I have done this many times in my life.
I remember a few years ago I was in a prayer meeting and we got to talking about disobedience or as we’re calling it that day rebellion. We talked about it and prayed about it and decided that what we were was addicted to rebellion. We called ourselves rebellion addicts and decided to attack the problem from that direction. But I must admit that until I started to think about it terms of good works there wasn’t a lot of urgency about it for me. It seemed to me to be a personal problem between me and God.
Guess what though it’s not that way at all. When I am rebellious for whatever reason in this regard I am depriving the people around me of the very good work that God planned for them to receive by my obedience. How dare I do that. Who am I to decided who has good happen in somebody’s life or circumstances because of my own junk interfering. How much blessing has been missed in my life and the lives of those around me because of my rebellion?
I encourage you to be on the lookout for these prearranged opportunities because they will present themselves. When they do consider carefully how you are going to behave. Will you be obedient or will you cave in to your addiction to rebellion? Ask Him for help in these situations and he will provide it. God is always on the lookout for people who will be obedient and there is abundant blessing for them and for those around them. Be that person I pray.
Here is the link I promised.
prayersandpowerchords 