Good in Retrospect?

I was just thinking today about good. Well, not good in the concept of good vs. evil. However, more in object comparison. Those who have been in church awhile especially the more traditionally minded churches have heard the phrase, "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good." My motto is, God is good when I am not." Therefore, in the light of those sayings, I must never be good. I know that to a point we can be moralistically good by comparison to other humans. However, in the eyes of God we cannot be good.  Even the Bible proves this concept. Look at the following scriptures:

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Psalm 14:3

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Mark 10:18

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Luke 18:19

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Romans 3:12

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

I am sure if you try hard enough, you could dig up more. However, we can see that it is consistent that we are not good.

Now, where some people may see this as a very negative though process, I see this as very positive and hopeful. Again, you may be questioning my logic by calling this hopeful. You may even say that this is a hopeless path of thought. However, I would like us to think if there was a time when we thought, "Man, I can't get anything right." or "Why did I do that when I know it was wrong?" Maybe you have never had those thoughts but I can guarantee that there has been a time when you have done something you know wasn't right and felt some remorse or regret for it. (If you have never felt that way then I would love to talk to you!) 

I see the hope in this because God gives us grace. The only one good is God and He loves us to forgive and save us. (I also understand that a non-believer will give this no credibility, which in return is why I write this even more for them to see the love God has for all.) God's ultimate love and mercy is given in His divine providence through His grace. Yes, he made a way through Christ's death and resurrection. This is the hope! Even though we are not good He has chosen us to live in Christ as the Holy Spirit dwells in us. However, we first must believe and confess. Romans 10:9, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Maybe a little clarification before I end this post. If you come to the conclusion of understanding and believing the Word of God, then you will understand this idea of good and bad. You already know that we unable to save ourselves because of our nature being contrary to good. You will also understand that the nature of good can only exist in the Father. (Father being God.) So therefore, our hope is found in the love of God to reconcile us who are bad into Him who is good. I hope that straightens the rabbit trails a bit!

Therefore, in saying all that I hope today you that can have the hope of knowing the one that is good. He gives us a chance to be good, not by our own trying and work but through the death and resurrection of Jesus. That is the good news! No more futile working that produces nothing of our own effort. Just simply living in Christ and the Holy Spirit working through us as we love Jesus and are obedient as a result of the love. I pray that you will accept the gift and know one day what good really means!

Don't Call It a Comeback!

Wow, It has been a while since I have posted anything in this blog. Well no time like the present to get back at it!

This may seem like, what some people have called my teaching style of late, rabbit trails. I have not written a post since I stepped down from my last youth ministry position. I may have been a little more preoccupied with things that have not been very important in the grand scheme of things, eternally speaking. However, we can get caught up in our own storms, desert journeys, or whatever you would like to call them. 

I have seen my absence from ministry as a sabbatical to family and myself. It has been a deep learning process that has taken me down several different roads. All to which culminate here tonight with one simple understanding. 

Why do we pursue the wind as if we will ever catch it? 

I am not saying that my entire time has been in vain; however, I could have used it a little more wisely. God has definitely opened my eyes and heart to the lack of assertiveness I have produced. The lack of production may have stemmed from the overly masculine pride to provide for my family in the means of a job and money. I know in my heart that God takes care of us. It is just a knee jerk reaction to produce that attitude to go out and work without thought of Gods plans. I spent so much time being a part of a company that was not in line with God's purpose that I miss several opportunities to fulfill His calling. Well, let’s just say that He (meaning God) has taken care of that and I am very pleased even thought the outcome is not what I would have hoped. 

I do believe that now is the time that God is about to reveal the bigger plan. I have been persistent to pursue all opportunities placed before me, but yet, to no avail. 

I will be more proactive in my journaling and writing again. I will be updating more often about the trials and teaching that have been afforded to me by the Holy Spirit. He has been the consistence in my life where I have been utterly absent. I praise God that He is faithful and that He never lets me forget the victory that Jesus won.

I pray that as I continue on this journey that I will not lose sight of the goal. I will remain eternally focused and keep my mind on heavenly things. There are many things here that God blesses us with but that is all futile when compared to the blessing of Heaven and spending eternity with Jesus.

So know you are blessed by the Most High God and praise Him.