Since I can remember it feels good to do good. Does that statement rub you the wrong way? I hope not. If you are a born again believer you have a divine nature that He gave you. You have a new spirit, heart and a mind that is learning a new way to think. I was thinking back this morning about when I was a kid and I distinctly remember that it felt good to do good. It actually felt good to do what my mom and dad wanted me to do. It felt good to go to church. It felt good to hear Bible stories. As a matter of fact, I can’t remember a time when that wasn’t true. Now of course once I heard that “you need to make sure you are acting good” then I found all sorts of ways to rebel against the “oppression of the man (law),” but still it felt bad to rebel and felt good to do what is right. I was “Baptized” at age 13 but am sure that I was born again sometime before that. For as far back as my memory goes I have known that Jesus came to the Earth to die for my sins. I didn’t have any idea what it meant to surrender to Him and be a follower of Jesus and have the Holy Spirit inhabit this temple until just a few years ago. We are all learning, right? Check out what God says about “it feels good to do good.”
Eph 2:8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].(AMP)
And how about Romans 8?
Rom 8:15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! (MSG)
Can you see that it is our default to want to do good as a new creation in Christ? The only time it gets messed up is when SELF jumps in the way. Paul calls it the flesh. The amazing thing is we have been delivered from the flesh also. Check this out. The SIN control over us has been removed!
Rom 8:3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice] (AMP)
And I really love this one. It is so clear, no ambiguity.
Rom 8:9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].(AMP)
Let me give you a quick example. As a man we are drawn to the opposite sex. God put that in us and made us that way. It is from Him. So when you see a pretty girl walking down the road, it is normal to notice. Really it is. The moment you begin to take note that this is a woman and has woman stuff that is nice to look at, the enemy comes in and starts his lying chant. He says “there you go lusting again.” Nope, lie, you are admiring God’s creation. He says “you could really have a good time with her.” Nope, lie, a good time is with my wife in a covenant relationship. He says “Yeah but your wife is neglecting you, she actually doesn’t love you like this one could.” This is where SELF steps in. If you agree with that lie you are being set up. First you need to understand that it is not about you, period. I don’t mean to be harsh but truthful. Since when is your satisfaction in life dependent on another? If so you will always be disappointed and rejected and living in offense. God supplies what you need. God has completely accepted you and cannot reject you and loves you like Jesus. What else could you possibly need? Do you know that if you live in that truth then you can give to your wife what she needs with no expectation and she gets loved unconditionally and you become God’s love to her? Do you know that there is supernatural healing in God’s love? Do you know that your relationship with your wife is elevated into the Heavenly realms because you and her are living from that place? Do you know that your offense with your wife is your selfish self taking over instead of living the life of Christ? Do you know that when you do that you are incredibly conflicted inside? It feels good to do good. When you are living from offense it sucks (to be honest). We get to be like Jesus. It is awesome to be like Jesus. Why do we continue to live in the lie that says “watch out, you are one moment of inattention from really messing up.”?
Come on! God is so much bigger than any of those lies. When the enemy’s lies come in ask yourself the most obvious question “what would Jesus do?” I don’t mean it in a “I better copy Him” way. I mean, what is the desire of my new, born again, divinely given, Holy Spirit inspired, heart? I guarantee you know the answer. When you see the pretty girl you can admire God’s creation as He intended. Jesus would. Actually Jesus would admire all of us as His creation. If the enemy says “something” that is contrary to what you know to be true and you start to justify the “something”, then ask yourself if you are trying to justify your actions based on an offense. That is self. God did all that He, He died for us!!!!, so that we don’t have to live from self but from Him. That is amazing. It actually feels good to do good. It was His plan all along.
Yay Jesus
Lance
alancetotheheart 