Learn
Yesterday we talked about repentance and how it includes turning away from evil. It is a change in the purposes of your heart that causes you to make different choices.
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor,
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
Isa. 1:17 NKJ
Notice it says to "learn" to do good. Learning is a process in which we exchange new information for old faulty information or we simply acquire new knowledge and add it to what we already know. Time, effort, and practice are necessary for learning to occur.
This list in verse 17 is not all inclusive but gives us an idea of what God values and considers good works. Notice not one of these are focused on you or what you can get.
Jesus is our example for doing good.
Jesus walked the earth and took nothing but He gave everything. Look at how He washed His disciples feet, fed the 5000, forgave the adulteress, and healed the sick. Everything Jesus did was to help the people around Him.
As you turn away from doing things contrary to God's word (evil), find things that are good to replace them with. If you tend to complain about things, start praising them instead. Look for the good in others and you will soon find plenty of things to say that will encourage and build them up.
If you tend to be judgmental or critical, don't allow those thoughts to linger in your head, instead remind yourself that we are all human. We all make poor choices and as a result may suffer for them but we are all also made in the image of God and therefore, we are all worthy of respect and compassion.
Doing good comes easier for some people than for others but don't give up. Keep looking for ways that you can be a blessing to someone else. Avoid spending time thinking about how no one is looking out for you. Refuse to ponder thoughts that are only you focused.
Practice being like Christ by doing something for someone everyday. This is how we learn to live focused on others and not ourselves.
Learning to do good is part of living God first.
Heidirn
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor,
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
Isa. 1:17 NKJ
Notice it says to "learn" to do good. Learning is a process in which we exchange new information for old faulty information or we simply acquire new knowledge and add it to what we already know. Time, effort, and practice are necessary for learning to occur.
This list in verse 17 is not all inclusive but gives us an idea of what God values and considers good works. Notice not one of these are focused on you or what you can get.
Jesus is our example for doing good.
Jesus walked the earth and took nothing but He gave everything. Look at how He washed His disciples feet, fed the 5000, forgave the adulteress, and healed the sick. Everything Jesus did was to help the people around Him.
As you turn away from doing things contrary to God's word (evil), find things that are good to replace them with. If you tend to complain about things, start praising them instead. Look for the good in others and you will soon find plenty of things to say that will encourage and build them up.
If you tend to be judgmental or critical, don't allow those thoughts to linger in your head, instead remind yourself that we are all human. We all make poor choices and as a result may suffer for them but we are all also made in the image of God and therefore, we are all worthy of respect and compassion.
Doing good comes easier for some people than for others but don't give up. Keep looking for ways that you can be a blessing to someone else. Avoid spending time thinking about how no one is looking out for you. Refuse to ponder thoughts that are only you focused.
Practice being like Christ by doing something for someone everyday. This is how we learn to live focused on others and not ourselves.
Learning to do good is part of living God first.
Heidirn
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