Growing up, I was the kind of child who evaporated quickly. You know, disappeared. Meaning, as soon as I could possibly get out of the house (and out from underneath my mom's penetrating gaze), I would. I'd find something to do in the far reaches of our backyard, frontyard, or down the street at a friend's house (usually my personal choice).
Mom had this particular tenacity which allowed her to see the one minute dot of dirt left on the baseboard or windowsill. And honestly, I'd get blamed a lot for things I really didn't do! I mean, I would inwardly reason, how could I possibly have done certain things I was accused of, if I wasn't even home at the time to do said crimes?! Which was sometimes, part of the problem. I would have a list of chores I was supposed to do before I wandered off. A little spit, a little shine and things looked good enough to me! Based on my standards of cleanliness, the job was good! Based on my mom's standards, I hadn't even done the job!
I think it became rote for me to answer mom's inquries about who didn't do this or who did that mess with, "Not me!" Almost like playing tag, "Not it!"
My reputation preceeded me, however, and my new name became, "Not me!" (Which, by the way, doesn't sound AT ALL like "Tina" or "Mar-Lizbeth.")
Like me, when I was a child, I think many Christians focus too much on the "Not me!" I think we tend to look at all the hideous, obvious sins and say, "Oh, I'm doing pretty good...cause I'm not doing that particular hideous thing."
When you read about what King David wrote in answer to the question, "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?", you find it is a matter of what we are doing to bring honor, glory and praise to God rather than what we are not doing. If you spend all that time focused on what you are not supposed to be doing, you end up not doing anything.
We are declared righteous because of Jesus Christ. And, He commands us to love one another. How is that love characterized? Colossians 3:12-13 explains it this way: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you many have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
This is usually easier to do with immediate best friends...people we choose to be around. This is much harder to do at home. However, if you are a child of God, your character, your actions, the way you obey your parents or interact with your siblings should reflect compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Really? Really. Oh yeah, and forgiveness.
Wow.
Read on to see what the PW Devotional has to say on this and more!
| The Code: Do Good Not Bad Posted: 11 Aug 2010 01:00 AM PDT "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous . . ." (Psalm 15:1-2) David begins to answer his own question about the kind of lives God-worshipping people lead. And the answer seems a little too obvious at first glance: Don't do bad and do good. Be "blameless" and do "what is righteous." Right.
But think about it. To be blameless has to do with your reputation with your friends and family. How do the people in your school or your hometown think of you? Sincere God-worshippers should not be known as liars or people who disrespect their parents or people who get in trouble regularly. That doesn't fit the image of someone who "lives with God."
But it's not enough to just be the guy or girl who never does anything wrong. I know lots of Christians that define "living for God" by all the nasty things they don't do. That's not living! That's just sitting around. People who live for -- and with -- God are people who do things that can be called good.
Think: None of us is perfectly blameless or righteous, yet. What are some blame-worthy things you need to start punting from your life? What are some good things you can find to do more of?
Pray: Ask God to help you want to bring Him glory by living a blameless, good-doing life.
Do: Ask someone you trust and who also trusts Jesus if there's anything obvious in your life that is "blameable." If you're still feeling bold after that, ask if he or she has noticed any of the good things you've been doing.  |
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Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.orghttp://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/
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