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Jan.17.07: Light for the Day - "Do Good Anyway"
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(>>) -- Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. When you soar like an eagle, you attract hunters. When people are unreasonable, illogical, self-centered and .... + Love them anyway. When people insist that your goodness contains selfish ulterior motives. + Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win both friends and enemies. People may become jealous of you. + Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, you will be both honorable and vulnerable. Some will seek to twist your words against you. + Be honest and frank anyway. If you do good today, some may forget about it by tomorrow. + Do good anyway. If you show yourself to be a big person with great ideas, don't be surprised if you are opposed by small people with closed minds. + Think big anyway. What you have spent years building, some may seek to destroy overnight. + Build anyway. Mark Twain once said, "Always do right. This will gratify most people, and astonish the rest!" -- GLDB -- 1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. -- 1 Peter 4:12-19 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that Name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (Prov. 11:31) 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their Faithful Creator and continue to do good. -- John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ (John 13:16). If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also. -- Matthew 5:3-16 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they will be called Children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 You are the Salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 You are the Light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your Light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -- Galatians 5:22-26 22 But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, 23 Gentleness and Self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. -- Luke 6:27-28; 35-37 27 But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who mistreat you. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be Children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. -- Romans 7:19-25 19 When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20 But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. 21 It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. -- Romans 8:1-2 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. -- Philippians 1:15, 18 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice. -- James 4:6-8 6 But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (Prov. 3:34) 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. ... -- Titus 3:3-6 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. -- Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For it is by Grace you have been saved, through Faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- 9 Not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, Do it all for the glory of God. -- Psalms 34:14-15 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous And His ears are attentive to their cry. -- Psalms 37:3-8 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, The justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret when men succeed in their ways, When they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; Do not fret -- it leads only to evil. -- Proverbs 14:29-30 29 A patient man has great understanding, But a quick-tempered man displays folly. 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, But envy rots the bones. -- Proverbs 22:1-2 1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; To be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. -- Proverbs 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. |