Have you ever noticed how many opportunities there are to do good things? If you truly are looking for volunteer services or ways to help those in need, there are organizations in place that can utilize your services. As Christians, we are called to do good things for other people. We are supposed to help those in need around us. We truly can become the hands and feet of Jesus as we reach out to those in need.
My heart goes out to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The flooding and aftermath of the devastation left behind is just heart-wrenching to witness and I cannot even imagine going through anything like that. As a Christian, I am praying and asking God to help those people and the rescue workers and organizations as they bring aide to these people in great need. Some are called to go and help and they have the time and resources to do so, and they must go!
Maybe you are not involved in rescue missions, but you are still doing good things: helping at church, involved with a ministry, going to Bible study, prayer meetings, helping at school, or just trying to be a Godly wife and mother, Godly father, husband, neighbor, whatever it might be. After a while, you start to burn out. You get tired of trying to fit so many things onto your plate and before long, you get weary.
I have been there and it is easy to discouraged when you just keep doing good things and trying hard to do what is right and then obstacles get in the way, sometimes it seems like problems pile up, and often like there is just too great a need for you to single-handedly meet them all. If that sounds like you, or someone you know, please read today's devotional. It is to encourage and strengthen you!
The Bible tells us in the book of Matthew (5:16) to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." By doing good things, we are not securing our salvation, but we are displaying our commitment to God and it glorifies God. The Bible encourages us to do good things for those around us. Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." When we see the opportunity, we are supposed to help!
We will be rewarded for doing good. The Bible says we reap what we sow. When a farmer plants a seed in the soil, he will throw some seeds into the ground but the harvest he yields is far more in number than the seeds he planted. That is the same for us. We can do good things for those around us, but God repays us in exponential ways that is more than we can measure. Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
The Bible addresses all of our needs and situations that we must go through. Of course God knew that if He told His people to do good works then our enemy would use that as an opportunity to wear us out. He brings guilt when we want to say no because we are truly unable to help with a bake sale, so then we go ahead and take on the project. He starts condemning us as we start to compare ourselves to how much others are doing. We start taking on that condemnation and it does not come from God! So, God put scriptures in place to help us.
Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." God is telling us to do good things but not get weary; keep going when we sometimes wonder what the point is. He encourages us to keep doing the harder right instead of the easier wrong, because there will be a reward if we don't quit and don't give up. Isaiah 40:31 says "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
As we wait for the LORD, He strengthens us. He enables us to rise high above our problems and the storm clouds that threaten us. We are given supernatural strength to keep running and not get tired. We can keep walking with God, reading His Word, trusting His promises, and staying true to what He is calling us to do, without giving up and wanting to quit. Wait for Him! Wait for the strength to come; the encouragement and the peace. You are doing great things for the Kingdom of God and the devil is mad. He will fight you. He will come against you. Just give it all to God and He will fight for you. Just trust Him and draw your strength from Him.
God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens