Saturday, November 5, 2011

And Do Not Forget To Do Good

Bottom Line

“And Do Not Forget To Do Good”
November 2011

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise --- the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
-- Hebrews 13:15-16

We are about to come into a season of giving and thanksgiving. The latter has to do with us giving recognition (thanks) to someone who has done something for us. In effect they have given to us. The former has to do with us giving to someone else. In all of our giving and giving thanks, I hope we remember not just this season but all year long that God is our source of everything. The conduit may be your neighbor or a friend or a brother or sister in the Lord, but the Source is God.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to continually (give) “offer to God a sacrifice of praise” and we do that by “the fruit of our lips” confessing His name. Will you do this for me?

Say out loud: “Praise God!”
“Praise God the Maker of heaven and earth!”
“Bless the Lord O my soul!”

You do that with your lips. Praise and thanksgiving should be abundantly upon our lips -- daily!

The writer of Hebrew also tells us, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others”. Why? Because it pleases God. He is pleased with a sacrifice of (giving) sharing and doing good to others.

Man! Can you believe that? By just doing good and sharing with others I am doing something that God likes – that pleases Him – that gives Him joy.

And all of this is “through Jesus”. We do it all in the name that is above all names, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Bottom Line: May we offer a sacrifice of praise to God with our lips and may we “not forget to do good and to share with others”. And, let it not be just for this season but daily -- through the name of Jesus.

Love in Christ,

MG