{"id":3697,"date":"2015-10-15T07:46:34","date_gmt":"2015-10-15T14:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3697"},"modified":"2015-10-15T07:46:34","modified_gmt":"2015-10-15T14:46:34","slug":"1015-do-what-is-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/15\/1015-do-what-is-right\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/15: Do What is Right (\u7bb425:1-10 \u5e16\u540e3:1-18 \u803631:15-32:25)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u7bb425:1-10 \u5e16\u540e3:1-18 \u803631:15-32:25<\/h2>\n<h2>Do What is Right<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bioy-body\">\n<p>Martin Luther King said, \u2018On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, \u201cIs it safe?\u201d Expediency asks the question, \u201cIs it politic?\u201d And Vanity comes along and asks the question, \u201cIs it popular?\u201d But Conscience asks the question, \u201cIs it right?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of convenience, but where they stand in moments of challenge, moments of great crisis and controversy.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Doing what is right in difficult situations in the workplace is a huge challenge. In his book, <em>God at Work<\/em>, Ken Costa writes, \u2018There are right and wrong choices\u2026 all the invented terms such as \u201cinappropriate\u201d and \u201ccounterproductive\u201d are efforts to avoid the simple ethical fact that there is a right and wrong course of action.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>When facing a difficult pastoral situation those of us in the leadership of the church need to remind ourselves that the first question we have to ask is, \u2018What is the right thing to do?\u2019 And only then move to the second question, \u2018What is the most pastoral way to do it?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Of course, none of us get it right all the time. We all make mistakes. As Ken Costa writes, \u2018We only grow in wisdom if we learn from our mistakes. Siegmund Warburg [Ken\u2019s first boss] said on this subject: \u201cSome name it disappointment and become poorer, others name it experience and become richer.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n<p>In today\u2019s New Testament passage, Paul writes to the Thessalonians, \u2018Never tire of <em>doing what is right<\/em>\u2019 (2 Thessalonians 3:13). Jesus did not go for the easy or popular solution, but he always did the right thing. This is an important principle that runs throughout the entire Bible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bioy-body\">\n<h2>1. Doing what is right is very practical<\/h2>\n<p><a class=\"inline-reading\" href=\"http:\/\/classic.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Proverbs%2025:1-10&amp;version=NIV&amp;interface=print\" target=\"_blank\">Proverbs 25:1-10<\/a>Doing what is right means getting rid of everything that is not right in our lives: \u2018<em>Remove the dross<\/em> from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith; remove the wicked from the king\u2019s presence, and his throne will be established through <em>righteousness<\/em>\u2019 (vv.4\u20135). Here are some practical examples of what living righteously looks like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Act with humility<br \/>\nYou do not need to push yourself forward. The right thing to do is to act with humility: \u2018Don\u2019t work yourself into the spotlight; don\u2019t push your way into the place of prominence. It\u2019s better to be promoted to a place of honour than face humiliation by being demoted\u2019 (vv.6\u20137, MSG).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"rteindent1\">This is exactly the point that Jesus expounded in one of his parables (Luke 14:8\u201311).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Always assume the best<br \/>\n\u2018Don\u2019t jump to conclusions \u2013 there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw\u2019 (Proverbs 25:8, MSG).<\/li>\n<li>Never betray a confidence<br \/>\nDo the right thing in relation to your neighbour. We should not go hastily to court (v.8). If you do end up in court, always do and say the right thing. \u2018In the heat of an argument,<em>don\u2019t betray confidences<\/em>\u2019 (v.9, MSG).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Lord, help us in our church community to get rid of the dross in our hearts, to act with humility towards one another and to do the right thing always.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bioy-body\">\n<h2>2. Doing what is right spreads the message<\/h2>\n<p><a class=\"inline-reading\" href=\"http:\/\/classic.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Thessalonians%203:1-18&amp;version=NIV&amp;interface=print\" target=\"_blank\">2 Thessalonians 3:1-18<\/a>Paul\u2019s overriding concern was that the gospel should get out to as many people as quickly as possible \u2013 that it would \u2018simply take off and race through the country to a ground-swell of response\u2019 (v.1, MSG).<\/p>\n<p>For this to happen, he prays that they will continue to do the right things: \u2018We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command\u2019 (v.4). He tells them, \u2018you ought to follow our example\u2019 (v.7). Paul lived in such a way that provided \u2018a model for you to follow\u2019 (v.9). He urges, \u2018never tire of <em>doing what is right<\/em>\u2019 (v.13).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pray for your leaders<br \/>\nLeaders need your prayers: \u2018And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one\u2019 (vv.2\u20133).<\/li>\n<li>Follow the way of love<br \/>\nPaul prays, \u2018May the Lord direct your hearts into God\u2019s love\u2019 (v.5a).<\/li>\n<li>Never give up<br \/>\nHe prays that the Lord will direct their hearts into God\u2019s love and \u2018Christ\u2019s <em>perseverance<\/em>\u2019 (v.5).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"rteindent1\">It\u2019s not enough to do the right thing occasionally or when you feel like it. Persist, endure and continue all the way to the end. As Spurgeon put it, \u2018by perseverance the snail reached the ark\u2019!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pull your weight<br \/>\nDo not do anything to bring the gospel into disrepute. Do not sit idly and watch life pass by. Paul sets an example of hard work: \u2018We showed you how to <em>pull your weight<\/em> when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn\u2019t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone&#8230; we simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious\u2019 (vv.7\u20139, MSG).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We are to exercise discipline. If people are not doing the right thing they should not be regarded as enemies but warned as brothers and sisters (v.15).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Lord, give me wisdom and perseverance so that I may always do the right thing. May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all (vv.16,18).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bioy-body\">\n<h2>3. The Spirit helps\u00a0you to do what is right<\/h2>\n<p><a class=\"inline-reading\" href=\"http:\/\/classic.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Jeremiah%2031:15-32:25&amp;version=NIV&amp;interface=print\" target=\"_blank\">Jeremiah 31:15-32:25<\/a>In one of the greatest prophecies of the Old Testament, Jeremiah foresees the new covenant (31:31). The new covenant will be different from the old one (v.32). \u2018\u201cThis is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time,\u201d declares the Lord. \u201cI will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbours, or say to one another, \u2018Know the Lord,\u2019 because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,\u201d declares the Lord. \u201cFor I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more\u201d\u2019 (vv.33\u201334).<\/p>\n<p>These few verses are alluded to again and again in the New Testament (see, for instance, Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:5\u201318 and Hebrews 8:8\u201312). They highlight a series of wonderful promises about this \u2018new covenant\u2019, which pointed forward to Jesus:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>God forgives your failure to do the right things<br \/>\nThis new covenant was made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ. At the last supper, before he was crucified, \u2018he took the cup, saying, \u201cThis cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you\u201d\u2019 (Luke 22:20).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"rteindent1\">The new covenant between God and humans that Jeremiah spoke about enables you to be in right relationship with God. It came about through Jesus\u2019 blood shed on the cross.<\/p>\n<p class=\"rteindent1\">All of your sins have been forgiven (Jeremiah 31:34d), through the blood of Christ. \u2018I\u2019ll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I\u2019ll forget they ever sinned!\u2019 (v.34d, MSG). As Joyce Meyer says, \u2018Whatever your sin or failure, you need to confess it to God and then let it go. Stop punishing yourself for something that is in the past. Refuse to remember something God has chosen to forget.\u2019<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>God\u2019s Spirit helps you to do the right thing<br \/>\nWe have the extraordinary privilege of living in the age of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps you to do the right thing.\u00a0God\u2019s law is not simply written on tablets of stone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"rteindent1\">Rather, God works in you, by his Spirit, to give you a passion to please him (\u2018I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts,\u2019 v.33b), and to give you the experience of a personal relationship with him (\u2018I will be their God and they will be my people,\u2019 v.33c). We can all <em>know <\/em>the Lord (v.34).<\/p>\n<p>God calls you to do the right thing even when it\u2019s not easy. Doing what is right does not necessarily lead to an easy life. Jeremiah was shut up in jail in the royal palace. Zedekiah locked him up for choosing to do the right thing (32:1\u20133).<\/p>\n<p>We see another example of Jeremiah doing the right thing in spite of the circumstances (vv.6\u20138). God tells him to buy a field, in spite of the fact that the Babylonians were about to take over Jerusalem. The field itself would become utterly worthless. But Jeremiah was not concerned about money. Doing the right thing is more important than the likelihood of success.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah\u2019s obedience in doing the right thing was remembered for all time. In Matthew\u2019s Gospel we read that the purchase of the \u2018potter\u2019s field\u2019 with the money paid to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus was a fulfilment of Jeremiah\u2019s prophetic action (Matthew 27:5\u201310).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Lord, help me to do the right thing regardless of circumstances. Thank you that the past is forgiven and forgotten. Thank you that I can know you. Thank you that you have put your Spirit within my heart. Guide me to do the right thing today and into the future.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"bioy-body\">Pippa Adds<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bioy-body\">\n<p><strong>Jeremiah 31:34<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>It is not that God has a bad memory (like me). But God chooses to forget our sins when we have confessed them and asked for forgiveness. The enemy tries to remind us about them. But we, also, have to choose to forget them\u2026 and to forget other people&#8217;s sins as well!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u7bb425:1-10 \u5e16\u540e3:1-18 \u803631:15-32:25 D <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/15\/1015-do-what-is-right\/\" title=\"10\/15: Do What is Right (\u7bb425:1-10 \u5e16\u540e3:1-18 \u803631:15-32:25)\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":148,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bibleinoneyear"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3697"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3698,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3697\/revisions\/3698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}