Category Archives: Doing Good

Helping others or meeting basic human needs.

Live Peaceably with all Men

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Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:17-18

Is it possible to live peaceably with all men? The answer is yes, but at times it takes effort on everyone involved to keep that peace. An agreement must be made for peace to be sustained. During the 60’s the peace symbol was displayed against the war in Vietnam. It is still used today to speak against violence. For a Christian, honesty and integrity go hand in hand because of the light of Jesus shining within their hearts. The apostle Paul learned from the Gospel of Jesus the true meaning of love and living in peace with all men. He wrote about it in the book of Romans. As Christians we may forget that we were called out of darkness and brought into His marvelous light [see 1 Peter 2:9]. It is by faith that Christians walk in the Spirit of Christ and not in the flesh of mere man. When Christians walk in the Spirit there will be no jealousy, strife, envy, or hatred, for these things are dead through the cross of Christ. However, at times it may flare up again in a Christian’s life, but we must realize that this was part of the old nature of man. That is why the apostle Paul stated to the Colossians that they ” have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him,” [see Colossians 3:10], which is Christ Jesus. We pray that anger, jealousy, strife, envy, and hatred to die in our being so that the Spirit of Christ may rule instead.

To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

For a Christian, the desire is to live a life in peace, and not be waging war, or have hatred against another human being. Carnally minded is physical and emotional desires that flare up in our life. In a Christian’s life the old nature is put to death to continue living in the new life of Jesus. Paul states to “mortify the deeds of the body,” [see Romans 8:13]. The Greek word for mortify means to put to death. Any negative action that is contrary to love, joy, and peace must be put to death in order for the new nature to come through. The new nature is the Spirit of Christ that now reigns in a believer’s life. The believer’s mind should be on spiritual things and not on strife, jealousy, and vengeance. In fact, if we read pass Romans chapter 12:8 to verse 19, it states that” vengeance is the Lord’s.” We put to death the things of the flesh by taking up the Cross of Christ, which is the power of God.

It is through Christ that we are victorious. The power of God comes from the cross of Christ. The resurrection power is what we need in our life. There is nothing that we have done within our-self to bring victory for overcoming negative characteristics. We put on the Lord Jesus Christ because victory is at the cross where all sins are forgiven, and bondage broken because of the sacrifice of Christ to bring deliverance of the old nature of man. We do not overcome evil by doing evil [such as to get even], but we overcome evil by doing good [see Romans 12:21]. We go back to the place of presenting our body to the Lord, for this is sanctification, to know the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and to be obedient in allowing His will to reveal the truth of who we are in Christ. We yield our life to God for the working of Christ’s character to come forth in love and peace. This is surrendering to God by repenting in order that we might live the life of peace.

This is the Spirit of adoption whereby we can come to God through prayer because we have been grafted into the vine. That vine is Jesus. Our focus is on Jesus and doing good works.

These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:8

Maintain good works – Have you maintained good works? Paul tells us in Titus 3:8 that if we believe in God, we are to maintain good works, for it is profitable unto men. We should be mindful of our everyday actions as to not allow another person to stumble. Many times, we do not fully know or understand those who live around us. We are so consumed about our own needs that we forget those around us. This happens a lot in families. Sometimes mom and dad work so hard to keep the family going that it becomes overwhelming, and children may be neglected. Take time to have a break and refocus. Think it through and ask God to help you through whatever you are struggling with. Talk to those in the family to solicit help. The stress is less when we refocus our everyday actions to perform a good deed. It brings a smile upon someone’s face. It also allows a moment of happiness when we have satisfied a basic human need. Take time to refocus and help someone out today and let the peace of God rule your heart.  Ask for forgiveness of the person you have been upset with. Ask in prayer for God’s spirit to intervene upon the situation to bring peace to all involved.  These are simple steps to take and grow daily in His love. With Christ in our heart, we will learn to live in peace with all men.

The Heart of Man

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Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

Proverbs 21:2

Have you ever questioned if the heart of man is his path? What is the heart of man? Is not the heart of man full of emotions and desires that motivates him to actions in life? Is it not the path he chooses to walk and live in? What path have you chosen? When we are born into this world, we had nothing, not even clothing on our bodies. An infant’s survival is based upon the care if its mother. Every mother has a strong maternal instinct for caring for their children. This is one reason why it is so hard for a mother to give up her child for adoption at birth. However, the road or path in taking care of an infant may not always be blissful, for it takes a certain amount of energy to care for the child. Depending upon the environment of the mother and if she is able financially bear the cost, the care of an infant is based upon human actions. We do not always think about the cost of caring for a child. It is not only the child, but the mother who also needs to have basic needs met in order to care for the child.

Man does not always understand this maternal instinct and may think this is an easy job that a woman has, but they are wrong in thinking this is an easy job. Men have broken down when it comes to taking care of an infant with feeding every 2 to 4 hours around the clock and changing diapers. Some men shudder at the thought of even changing diapers. Just think of all the emotions a mother and father go through when a child is born. Balloons and cigars were handed out right after the birth of a child, up to the mid 20th century. Now, we have no smoking in public places including hospitals. Why, because of the health risk. We have learned about how breathing in smoke can deprive us of oxygen. In 2018 USA TODAY reported on top 10 health conditions affecting Americans. The top seven on the list is High Blood Pressure, Depression, High Cholesterol, Coronary Artery Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Substance Disorder, and Alcohol Disorder. By now you may wonder what this has to do with the heart of man or woman? These health conditions within society have a lot to do with what you believe is the optimal health conditions for your own body. It is what you believe in your heart that determines your path in life. You may have heard that out of the heart comes the issues of life. This is the path we follow that brings the issues in life to the forefront. This is the unveiling of truth in everything we do.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of those who seek death. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them, because they refuse to do justice.”

Proverbs 21:6-7

When it comes to getting gain/money, the way of a man is right in his own eyes, they are not concerned with doing justice. In fact, they are far away from doing justice. It is true that you cannot change another’s man’s mind when it has already been made up. The decision to follow its own path is what is on his mind. There are all kinds of philosophies being taught today that may seem right, but they only have a part of a truth, not the whole truth. Take for instance, Friedrich Nietzsche phrase, “you have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” Wow! It does not exist; I would beg to differ and say it does exist. Remember Thomas the tax collector who asked Jesus “how can we know the way?” Have you asked that question? Jesus answered and said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” [see John 14:5-6]. There is a way that is right and wrong. We learn about it and try it out as children. That is why nurturing a child is so important.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Colossians 2:8

The apostle Paul tells us to be aware of philosophy and vain deceit. Philosophy and vain deceit that are empty deception of fraud and trickery. We see this happening every day on the internet and in real circumstances in life where someone is trying to get what you have. False impression is a failure to understand correctly. Can we admit to our own failures as human beings? Can we examine the precepts we live by personally? The answer is yes, we must examine ourselves and what we are doing. It is how we think and act that can make the difference in our life. We must choose how we are to act in any situation in life. If it is not after Christ, then it is after another philosophy of men that we are following. We must be concerned first about our own actions and behavior. That is why in Proverbs 22:6, it states, “train up a child in the way he or she should go and, when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The whole point is how are we training up our children. Are we honest with ourselves and our children?

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”

Proverbs 20:11

The child will follow the parents even if the parents try to hide their own faults. The child soon learns the truth of what was hidden. A parent can be compromised by their own acceptable standards that are lower than is desirable. God weighs the heart of a man whether it is honest or not. Do you weigh what is in your own heart?  What we think is right may not be right, and ignorance is not bliss, for “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death,” states Proverbs 14:12. Just as our lifestyle that we are living, we may think is good, but the end result is actually death. Take into consideration what causes High Blood Pressure, Depression, High Cholesterol, Coronary Artery Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Substance Disorder, and Alcohol Disorder. Is it not our lifestyles? Is it not the habits we have formed that may cause those results? We must learn to be wise and not be tossed around by lying tongues. Even those who are arrogant and self-sufficient need to examine their own ways and see that they follow their own rules instead of God’s word.

Proverbs 14:14 states that “the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.”  This is a known fact for those who do not follow any rules, or only follow rules when they have to. Where is the wisdom in following after death instead of life? We must trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding. We may not know at the moment the whole truth, but if we follow after Christ’s love, God’s wisdom will be revealed. There is wisdom when we ask questions. We must ask God to help us change the path we are on to the path of Christ’s love. We must ask for wisdom for “the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding,” [Proverbs 2:6]. Christ is our example for the way a Christian should live, and He is the way, truth, and the life. Let us weigh carefully in our own heart what precepts we follow, for it will become the path you follow even your very own health. We must ask God to reveal his wisdom in regard to the path we follow. We must ask God for our own health to help us to change our habits and behavior to one that will bring life and not death.

Be not Troubled

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sheep in valley

Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled.

Matthew 24:6

Considering recent events in the Ukraine, many are saddened to witness and hear what is happening right now as Russian troops invade Ukraine. It is hard to witness neighbor fighting with neighbor, but this is exactly what is happening, for this is a civil war. We all should pray for peace in the Ukraine. We should also pray for Christians, and anyone left in the Orthodox Churches. Putin is a friend of the Jews and has supported the Orthodox Church. It was under Putin that the unity among Jews in Orthodox Churches in and outside of Russia was established. Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia is now a registered religious organization by Ministry of Justice of Russia in 1999. This was an unusual agreement and through much prayer it was achieved. Let us remember 1st John 2:11, “He that saith he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now.” Let’s remember the 10 commandments about not killing and not coveting thy neighbor’s possessions. The Ukraine has about 360,000 Jews and it is the center for Hasidic Judaism. Let us remember that we follow a Jewish Messiah and the apostle Paul said that the Jews will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again if they would only believe in who Jesus is [see Romans 11:23].

We do not know the whole truth in what is happening in the Ukraine, we only see what is happening. When we see our brothers and sisters in pain, we feel that pain. We can also become angry and do things that void our testimony in Christ. It is easy to get carried away by our emotions into reacting to world events at home and abroad. In any case, any type of political policy made does effect people. No one can deny that. In America we are witnessing policies that one wonders if one has a conscience at all. How have we turned against each other turned due to the political environment has some shaking their heads in astonishment. I’m hearing about apostasy in America, a turning away from the truth of Christ and from sin in general. Moral apathy is beginning to take place with a lack of faith in any type of organization.  The church being top of the list for people’s loss of interest. One cannot blame it all on the pandemic. The walk of a good minister is lacking when they are seeking goods for themself and have no concern for the flock at all. When they treat God like a genie just to get what they want at the people’s expense. When sin is not being preached and the cross of Christ no longer means anything, something is wrong.

We have entered a new age when we see a departing from the faith that is in Jesus Christ. This should sear our conscience as the apostle Paul stated in 1st Timothy 4:1-2.

In the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 

If there is no true conversion to Christ, then whatever faith you have is a dead faith. Do you find it hard to tell the difference between one who professes to be a Christian and one who is not? As I was recently reminded by a statement “welcome to the new world.” This new world of doing business where personal identity theft, fraud, and cyber-attacks, are now commonplace. How should we respond? We should respond by getting down on our knees and pray. The apostle Paul told us Christians that we have the word of reconciliation [see 2nd Corinthians 5:18]. Christ was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [see 2nd Corinthians 5:21]. We should never forget this. It was Christ himself who stated, “take heed that no man deceives you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many [Matthew 24:4-5]. These words were stated before “you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars” by Jesus. All this was said to his disciples regarding His coming at the end of this age. No one will know the hour the Lord will come [see Matthew 24:42]. That is why we watch and pray.

We pray for safety and endurance. Endurance because we have committed ourselves to him who will judge righteously [see 1st Peter 2:23]. We pray for God to deliver us from the evil one as is stated in Matthew chapter six verse 13. We continue the work of an evangelist by preaching the word in all season’s rebuking, exhorting and reproving with long suffering [see 2nd Timothy 4:2]. We remember the words of Peter in chapter 3:

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1st Peter 3:11-12

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers. Praise God! This is good news. If your heart is in the right place, He will hear your prayers. We are close to the end, but we are not there yet. There is a season for everything, but in the end, it all belongs to God. Everyone should fear God and know their place in life. If your house is not in order then get it in order and “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” [Matthew 6:33] this was talking about personal needs we all have as human beings such as food and clothing. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” see Matthew 6:34. God cares about what you need but remember to seek Him and His righteousness first. All things are in the hand of God. Therefore, we seek Him and pray. Should we receive the good of our labor, we should remember that it is a gift of God.

Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever; nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3:13-14

Be not troubled of what you hear and see. Continue in prayer and always be reconciled to God. Whatever you eat, drink, or do, do all to the glory of God.

The Struggle of Two Natures

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For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 7:14

I do not know of any Christian that does not struggle between “Two Natures” that some call good or evil. We do not understand why we do what we do. We tend to do what we should not do even when we want to do good.

Man between an angel and devil

It is like the picture above which some of us have seen when we were a child on cartoons. I have seen it on Sponge Bob Square Pants as well as on the TV show “The Simpsons.” Do you ever wonder why even as a child that this struggle still carries on into adulthood. Why is it that we do not heed the warning signs? It could be that we just do not believe it is true, and need to experience it to learn the truth about it. It is like diving in to fast to eat your soup. Did you know that there is a proper etiquette to eating your bowl of soup? First of all, I do not see everyone diving into it because it may be too hot and you can burn yourself. This is why we use the spoon and scoop the edge of the bowl away from us when extracting soup towards our mouth to eat. This is so we do not splatter hot soup on us. The bible is our moral compass and if you find yourself struggling on what to do, you are not alone. Every good Christian struggles with their nature or behavior to do good or evil. The apostle Paul dealt with this subject of two natures in writing to the Roman Christians.

For that which I do I understand not; for what I would, that do I Not; but what I hate, that do I.

Romans 7:15

“I do what I hate to do,” said the apostle Paul and if he had issues with it there is no doubt that everyone has issues with not doing the right thing. So what was it that Paul found out about dealing with this issue? Paul found that there is a law present that if he did good, evil is present with him [see Romans 7:21]. In fact, he describes several laws. We have laws in place in countries in order to live a peaceful life with all mankind. For the most part civil law is supposed to be good in that it regulates concerns in private relations between members of a community. It is the principal of equality within communities. The apostle Paul who was a Roman citizen by birth received certain consideration when thrown in jail. The apostle Paul addressed six laws. The law of Moses which condemns, the law as a principle within society, the law of faith, which excludes self-righteousness, the law of the mind that tries to do good but can not do it, the law of sin within humanity, the law of the Spirit that has the power to deliver the believer from sin.

The result the apostle Paul found is in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” I hear many Christian quote up to the part in Christ Jesus, but leave off the not walking after the flesh, but after the Spirit. What Paul is saying here is that our walk in our behavior and action must match that of Christ Jesus. The end result is walking in the Spirit which means we surrender our self to Jesus who is our priesthood and our redemption. Jesus fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law and He is the one who sends us the Holy Spirit. Paul mentions the “Spirit” sixteen times in Romans chapter 8 and therefore we should take note that this is a most pivotal conclusion to the problem of the struggle between two natures. It is the Spirit that gives us life. Listen to what Jesus said in John 6:63.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 6:63

We must remember that the law is spiritual, as Paul exclaimed in chapter seven of Romans, but “I am carnal, sold under sin” [see Romans 7:14]. Our checks and balances come from the word of God and through the Holy Spirit that points to Christ. When we struggle with our old nature, we take it to Jesus and ask him to intervene and allow His Spirit to take control of our mind and actions. We ask through prayer that we put to death any feelings of hatred, getting even, anger, or anything that does not project the image of Christ. Some may have to struggle in letting it go. Remember the flesh will not profit. There are those who have gotten even, and later found that it did not bring them a lasting peace. Peace only comes through the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Reprove yourself and flee from doing evil. Remember that the Apostle Paul said to “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good,’ [see Romans 12:21].

Let us pray and ask God to help us to overcome evil by doing good. Let us walk in the Spirit of Christ knowing it is ” the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that hath made me free from the law of sin and death,” [Romans 8:2]. We must get under control our emotions and our mind by giving it to Jesus at the cross where our victory is. Sing along and ask god to renew a right spirit within you. Released in 1984 by Keith Green.