And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 1 Peter 3:13 (KJV).

REFLECT:
An eagerness to do good is what our Bible verse for today is all about. Doing good is something everybody can identify with because at some point in our lives we must have shown some eagerness to do a good deed to someone other than ourselves.

Somewhere lodged deep in the recesses of man’s heart or being is the desire to see good being done, however, the sad thing is that this kind of nature is not often displayed or demonstrated in the physical. Most times it comes as a struggle to will ourselves to do good. The reason for this lack of regular demonstration and display of good around us is a result of man’s disobedience in the garden of Eden, and his ultimate fall from grace to sin.

With the fall of man, sin took control of our DNA, weakened, and distorted a lot of the Divine imprint of God that was placed in us from the beginning of creation. Hence our inability to constantly have it in our will to do good. This is what the Apostle Paul tried to describe in Romans 7:17-20 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”(KJV). This indeed is a dark place to be in……. But hold on! Don’t give up! There is a way out!

So what is the way out of such a situation? How best can we ignite the fire of eagerness to constantly do good and to always remain in that place of showing goodness? The first thing we must do is to acknowledge the sin condition in us and to admit that we cannot help ourselves, we just do not have the power on our own to deliver ourselves.

Secondly, we need someone higher, bigger, stronger, and more capable than ourselves to help us, and that person is God through His Son Jesus. Again, the Apostle Paul describes this in Romans 7:24-25 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (KJV).

Thirdly, we accept God’s help by receiving Jesus into our lives, for Jesus is the goodness of God who came to die for mankind on the cross to obliterate and destroy the power of sin in our lives.

Fourthly, when we receive Jesus, we also automatically receive the Holy Spirit of God who comes to help, enable and empower us to constantly do good and stay in the place of God’s Goodness.

Finally, when we do all this, we gain a strong assurance of God’s Divine presence and Covering to always protect and defend us.

Being eager to do good means accepting the Goodness of God in the person of Jesus Christ and bringing ourselves under the jurisdiction of the Holy Spirit for the Grace and empowerment to stay in the place of Goodness; for this is the place of God’s Divine assurance, coverage, and protection!

Ebimobo W. Obasi

PLEASE PRAY ALONG:

A Prayer for God’s Goodness.

FATHER GOD, I give my life to follow You. I am eager to do good to others because You have done so much good in my life. Even if I suffer for the good You call me to do, give me the courage to persevere. Momentary suffering is worth an eternity spent with You. Please protect me and fill me with joy as I follow You. In JESUS MIGHTY NAME AMEN.