Hope For Today Videos

John Wesley said this about doing good: Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. What would that look like for us today?

We’ve seen all kinds of news in recent w eeks of people asking for benefit packages from governments or work places to give them what they believe they are owed.We spoke yesterday about the importance of dealing with the sin problem we all carry and entering into a new life-giving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. What we receive from God when we do that is the best kind of benefit package we could ever dream of.

When I was young I was introduced to a simple explanation of the Good News of the Gospel that was contained in a few verses from Romans.  It was called the “Romans Road” and if we live by the truths that are included in these few sentences, I promise you we will have a life that is solid and straight and one that will last not just a long time, but for eternity.

Over and over again we read how Jesus was sensitive to people and what they were going through. He reached out to them with compassion. Recovering the life God intends us to live is learning how to move from being overly sensitive about our own needs and feelings to becoming aware what others are going through and truly caring about them.

Integrity is one of the most valued character qualities a person can have.  A person of integrity has strong moral and ethical principles.  They are known to be honest regardless of their circumstances or the company they are keeping or when alone with no one watching.  What you see on the outside is the same person they are on the inside.

What does it mean to be a person with discretion? This is something we don’t often see practiced as we live in a culture where people want to “speak about their truth” regardless of the impact on others. It's a challenge to both gain and practice discrectionbut we are given clear help in the Bible.

God wants us to be responsible and generous with all He has given us – time, abilities, money, possessions. God does not want us to carelessly spend the money and resources we have as soon as we get them, with no thought about what we might need in the future. He also wants us to help others even though we might feel our resources are limited. God wants us to ask for wisdom and seek His will in how we use the resources we have been given.  He promises to bless us when we do.

I think we wouldn’t get much argument from anyone if we described someone with good character as being, honest, responsible, generous, caring, fair etc.  These are all seen a good character traits and the more we live in them, regardless of our circumstances, the more we become known as people of good character.

We all appreciate a person who shows us solid and caring character – a person of strength and dignity.  I thought we could have a look at some character qualities that we can ask God to develop in us.

One week since Easter Sunday and so we pray: Work in us and through us today to help us become the persons You have created us to be – beloved citizens meant to bless You and be a blessing to others.  Teach us what all that means, Holy Spirit, and guide us in the ways of God, the great King of all Kings. 

It’s just a week since Good Friday and our remembering the great sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.  A week is a long time in any news cycle.  Our world is full of many troubles and the death and resurrection of Jesus is meant to reassure us, particularly during troubled times, that God has a good way forward for us.

With full knowledge of our broken past, Jesus looks at us today, asks us to follow Him, and promises to use us in meaningful and satisfying ways if we will do His will. His resurrection power in us is more than enough to make us successful in the venture.