Why do we feel we have to prove we are good to other men? Why can’t we rest in God’s goodness? Could it have something to do with self interest, or too much Self awareness? May God have mercy on us. May God deliver us from ourselves. Good deeds do not make us good.
Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
God wants us to lose ourselves in Christ! He desires that we become so identified with Jesus, that we lose our self awareness.
It is self awareness that fuels our need to be recognized, appreciated, and seen as being good by other men.
Trying to measure up, trying to obtain being good based on, “good deeds,” is exhausting. Not that when we are in Christ we will not do good things.
Grace cries out, “who will turn to Jesus and be declared good by God on the basis of Christ' finished work?”
It is still true, “there is none righteous no not one, there is none that does good.” If we define good the way God defines good we will save ourselves much grief and frustration.
All roads do not lead to God, and good acts do not make us good.
I’m all for kindness, we need all we can get. But let’s not be fooled. We need the God who is Good, not just good acts from ourselves or others.
He is the author of all that is good, because only God is good.
Are you exhausted from trying to keep up with what society calls good, or the church calls good? Maybe it’s time to change our thinking to match what the Scriptures teach about good.
Maybe this is why Jesus said , “Come to me all you who labor, and I will give you rest.”
Have you abandoned yourself to Him? Have you put the full weight of all your trust in what He has done for you?
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
