Be a Doer of Good

 

Maybe it’s because I am not much of a traveler that I can say this.
Or maybe it’s just that Jesus has been working on my heart in ways I could never quite articulate.

I hear people say it all the time.
They can’t wait to, “get out of town.”
They’re counting down the days for their, “long-awaited vacation to begin!”

I get it.
My hubby likes to travel.
And although our trips these days primarily consist of visiting my daughter and her husband all the way on the other side of the country, he enjoys the getaway from the craziness that is his daily life in the hustle and bustle of his work.

John 9:1-5 gives us some insight into how Jesus did life here on earth.

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ‘We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ‘While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.’ When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, ‘Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?’ Others were saying, ‘This is he,’ still others were saying, ‘No, but he is like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the one.’ So they were saying to him, ‘How then were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.' They said to him, ‘Where is He?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’”

Jesus brings light to a blind man.

Compassion consumed Him.

And scripture tells us that He, “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38) every chance He had.

He knew why He had come.
And it was central focus of His entire earthly ministry.

Jesus didn’t go around the world as a sight-seer.
He went around as a doer of good.

The disciples, who still had a worldly perspective, didn’t get it.
Even with Jesus beside them, they still didn’t understand.

In Mark 13, as they were leaving the temple, one of the disciples who was overcome by the awe-inspiring sight that the temple was, said to Jesus, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings!  Look at the impressive stones on the walls!”  (verse 1)

And Jesus’ response could be anticipated, “Yes, look at those great buildings.  But they will be completely demolished.  Not one stone will be left on top of another!”  (verse 2)

This was a shocking response he gave to his students.

Jesus was predicting total and complete devastation that would result from the Roman army’s attack.

And they were confused and perplexed.

But as I look around this place I long to think like Jesus did.

Because this too, will all be destroyed.
All of it.
Every bit.

And so I beg God to keep me fixated on Kingdom-realities while I am in this place.
What will live on into eternity?

Can I take Paul’s directions… the ones he gave to the Colossians, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”?  (Col 3:2)

It’s worth considering.

Because all of this will one day be gone.
But what will live on will be your kindness.
Your time.
Your sacrifices.
Your love.

It matters…