Doing The Right Thing

We hear promises all the time, from politicians, companies, friends, family, and acquaintances. Some people are pretty good at keeping their promises and their word. They do what they say they will do. Others are constantly seeking ways to get out of their promises. These same people try to skirt the law and do the things that only benefit themselves.

Isaiah 11:5 says, “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” God is always dwelling in perfect righteousness and is always faithful to His Word, His promises, and His people. As we become more like Him in the power of His Spirit, we will walk in righteousness and also be faithful to His Word, glorying in His promises, and encouraging others also to walk in righteousness.

Vault of Goodness

Before I retired, I was an internal auditor for a large bank. My responsibilities were to review operating procedures and accounting records to make sure that the bank was protected against loss and risks were mitigated. One of the units that we regularly examed was the cash vault. Armored trucks came at all hours of the day to deliver cash and coin and to receive cash to deliver to other locations. As you can imagine, security was of highest importance.

Zechariah 9:17 says, “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!” Another limitless attribute of God is His goodness. Psalms 23 tells us that His goodness follows us all the days of our lives. We must share His goodness with others through love and kindness. God has an immense storehouse (vault) of goodness from which He delivers blessings to us each day and from which we can withdraw from His goodness to bless others.

Unlimited Supply

Suppose you were commencing a building project and you were told that you would have an unlimited supply of materials for the project. How would that knowledge change your approach to the project? Maybe you wouldn’t change a thing because you you would always do your best and be efficient with whatever resources you had. But perhaps you would expand the project for greater benefits to yourself and others.

John 1:16 says, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” God’s grace to us never expires, ends or runs out, because it comes from the fullness of God. Therefore, we can draw upon His grace to extend grace to others.

Gifted to Serve

We tend to glorify the gifted person. The athlete who is extremely talented and successful is honored with accolades and awards, along with large sums of money. The talented actor or actress is wooed by an adoring public. The successful businessperson is honored in a variety of venues. But all these honors and most of these people are only gathering the rewards for their own prideful intentions.

I Peter 4:10-11 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace; whoever speaks, as one who speaks the oracles of God; whoever serves; as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” God has given you gifts or abilities not to become boastful in them, but rather to serve others and glorify His name. Use these gifts in the power of God to build the body of God.

Changes Everything

When we fill a clear glass with orange juice, it changes the appearance of the glass. When we fill our car with gasoline, we enhance the power of the car to go farther. When we fill our minds with good thoughts our perspective changes. The process of filling changes things.

Ephesians 5:18-21 says, “but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” God gives His Holy Spirit to dwell within believers, which gives them power. This power is experienced and displayed by surrendering to the Spirit, which will result in boldly speaking the gospel message to others, encouraging others, and the continual joyful expression of thanksgiving to God. Becoming filled with the Holy Spirit of God, changes how we act, think, respond to others and what we can give to a hurting world around us.