Do Good

Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
  
TO do good is a simple command, isn’t it? We can think of many ways and opportunities to do good for others. It should be a natural thing to do. But unfortunately, it’s not. Paul even condemns his own inability to always do good as in Romans 7:19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.  
   What then is the essential good we must do? It is the good that gratefully responds to our salvation. Our work is to plant seeds of spiritual fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control are the essentials of doing God’s good work on earth. You will diminish and defeat the sinful nature when you activate God’s heart gifts to express God’s heart for those in need.
   Paul reminds us this is an ongoing work. As a farmer plants seeds and awaits the harvest, he submits to the natural process of plant growth and maturity. A Christian planting seeds of Spirit fruit cannot control its growth. You must await for the Spirit to mature the seeds in those to whom you do good. As Jesus taught us, some seeds fall on rocky soil and never grow. Some start to grow and die. Some flourish to maturity. Jesus emphasized that life’s worries and lies can keep one from God’s goodness. Doing good is helping people hear and live God’s Word. (from Matthew 13:18-23) This requires we persistently obey God’s will with God’s seed.
   And remember, there are many times you need someone to do good for you. For you to stop doing what you don’t want to do requires confession and submission to another’s patience, love and kindness. God is an ever present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Jesus has sent the Counselor to help us live into God’s goodness. Be sure to seek his Word and listen to him in your prayers.
   Good will overcome evil when one is patient and persistent. The Christian life is one that requires perseverance to live in God’s goodness. The sin nature wants to turn us to our natural desires. But God’s power is supernatural. He is Creator, Redeemer, Savior and Life Everlasting. When you belong to God, you are his child. Live now in his household. Put aside what you do not want to do. Use your spiritual fruit to do the good works of God. Do good works to display God’s love. You will find reward on earth and in heaven.