Forgetting to please God
Hebrews 13:16
16 And do not forget to do good and to share with
others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Something all Christians are susceptible to is letting life distract us from what matters most. We are saved by this glorious Gospel, we are amazed by our God of love and grace, and then we just sort of fade out. We go to work, we pay bills, we cook meals, we go on errands and we lose sight of the big picture. We go from being passionately on fire for God to just going about ordinary life without much thought about our Father in heaven.
The author of Hebrews knew this about people, that when it comes down to it, we are the most forgetful sorts of people. And he gave this reminder: “Don’t forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
There are many reasons we don’t do what pleases God. Sometimes we’re stubborn, sometimes we don’t know how, and, as the book of Hebrews mentions here, sometimes we just forget. When was the last time you made a point to do something good for or share with someone else?
Now let’s go a step further, let’s take out the ordinary sort of things like holding a door open or smiling at someone. When was the last time you did something good for someone and it meant you really had to go out of your way?
Now if you’re like me, you might have trouble thinking of much you’ve done for others. And if you’re like me, it’s not that you didn’t want to do good things, it’s that you live a busy life and you just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
So let’s break the bad habit. Even today, go out and do something good for someone, share from what you have. And as you are doing so, know that you are pleasing God.
Today’s Generosity Challenge:
This one is a little harder. Today, through prayer, pick up the phone and call someone you don’t like, you know someone you’re at odds with or their personality just bugs you – ask them out for coffee or lunch. Then, when you get together, ask them about themselves, say nothing about yourself. Just listen to understand, not to respond. And, when it’s all over and you part ways just say, “Thank you for letting me know you a little better.” (Be sure to pick up the check.) Then, go home and write down what you learned new about them here http://GenerousLife.net/Day29. Include how were you blessed.
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