Daily Bible Reading

Matthew 4:10

Jesus said to him [Satan], "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus said, "You have heard that is was said, 'Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

Matthew 6:25-27

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Jesus Came To Do Good and Did David Chadwell

Our initial impression of Jesus often becomes the basis of our spiritual focus. The Lord directed Peter to Cornelius. A confused Peter finally understood that he was to introduce Cornelius to Jesus. This was his introduction:

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God appointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

These words leap out: "...He went about doing good..., for God was with him." What a beautiful summation of Jesus' ministry! Jesus went about doing good because God was with Him . What a marvelous insight!

You and I have difficulty seeing evil. Sure, we see the evil that tortures us or that personally offends us. But, we do not see all evil in all of its forms and presentations. Jesus did: the evil in hearts, motives, and attitudes as well as the evil in actions and human interaction. Yet, seeing all evil, He went about doing good.

Incredible! Our greatest reasons for refusing to do good arise from our awareness of evil. Evil discourages us. It "turns us off." It intimidates us. It disillusions us. It makes us cynical and judgmental. It powerfully convinces us that it is "wrong" to do good. We find others' evil so offensive that we refuse to do good.

Christians who stumble and fall frustrate us. Godly people who fall prey to evil motives anger us. Evil within the church outrages us. We set other Christians on idealistic pedestals. Then we are disgusted when they fail to meet our expectations.

In all circumstances, Jesus saw evil as we are incapable of seeing it. Yet, He went about doing good.

Jesus was born to do good, lived to do good, died to do good, and He ever reigns to do good. May we follow His leadership. Why? Because God is with us. Remember: the more God's presence fills us, the more good we will do.

Source: David Chadwell, Jesus Came to do Good and Did. http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/chadwell/1996/b122296.htm