Do Good in Spite Of...

As I left work, I wasn't happy with my performance today -- I was easily distracted and forgot little things that made a big difference in a customers order. No matter how good customer service you might think you have as lip service towards a customer -- if you don't have the order right -- you might as well have not have accepted the responsibility of taking the order. I was frustrated not being able to remember --

We all have a tendency to forget. This may be why God repeats important truths to us. Twice in Deuteronomy 24, the Lord reminded the Israelites that they were slaves in Egypt but they were rescued and redeemed by the true God. (v.18,22). Through Moses, He told them, "You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there" (v.18).

Because they had been redeemed, the Israelites had certain responsibilities that the Lord wanted them to remember. Moses said, "I command you to do this thing" (v.18). What was "this thing?"

They were told to care for "the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow" (v.19). If part of the harvest was left in the fields, they were to leave it for these needy people. He reminds them of the people in verses 20 and 21.

We too are a redeemed people through Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection. We too are told numerous times to be willing to share with those in need. Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

In Romans 12 Paul talks about how we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God, which is a reasonable service. We are not to conform to this world but because of a transformation and renewing of the mind, we can prove what is good and acceptable and in the perfect will of God.

Because of grace given to Paul, he reminds us not to think more highly than he/she ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt each person a measure of faith. What is for me is for me, what is for you is for you...so on and so on.

We have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. So being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. We all have different gifts according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them -- if prophecy is your gift, then let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

He also reminds us to love without hypocrisy. Despise what is evil. Cling to what is good (hold on to it gently). Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. (Encourage each other); not lagging in diligence (be thorough and methodical), fervent in spirit (zealous and passionate), serving the LORD; rejoicing in hope