Doing Good Deeds

Kindness is never wasted. If it has no effect on the recipient, at least it benefits the bestower. - S. Simmons

Jesus said there would be a reward for just giving a cup of cold water to someone. Hmm!

You offer them your seat only to hear a brusque "no thanks!" You offer to help only to hear "nope, I've got it!" It's often true our attempts to do a good deed or bless someone get rebuffed or angrily rejected. However, that should not deter us from the practice. Doing a good deed is its own reward. If there's a "thank you" attached or some other acknowledgement given, that's great. But even if not, we should still commit ourselves to the practice for our Heavenly Father sees us. And that is where the greatest reward will be acknowledged. God will never be indebted to us, and He loves to lavish His blessings on us, especially when we live to pass them on or share them with others. Last I've checked, kindness is an outgrowth of being Spirit filled, RIGHT?

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"...and as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." - II Thessalonians 3:13

The 'No Thanks Needed' Kindness

Kindness is never wasted. If it has no effect on the recipient, at least it benefits the bestower. - S. Simmons

Jesus said there would be a reward for just giving a cup of cold water to someone. Hmm!

You offer them your seat only to hear a brusque "no thanks!" You offer to help only to hear "nope, I've got it!" It's often true our attempts to do a good deed or bless someone gets rebuffed or angrily rejected. However, that should not deter us from the practice. Doing a good deed is its own reward. If there's a "thank you" attached or some other acknowledgement given, that's great. But even if not we should still commit ourselves to the practice for our Heavenly Father sees us. And that is where the greatest reward will be acknowledged. God will never be indebted to us, and He loves to lavish His blessings on us, especially when we live to pass them on or share them with others. Last I've checked, kindness is an outgrowth of being Spirit filled, RIGHT?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...and as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." - II Thessalonians 3:13

P.S. -'I Am Restored' class on campus tonight at 6:30pm. Hope you can make it!

It's Own Reward

Beware every time you notice yourself doing a good thing because you ruin it by the notice. – Oswald Chambers

Jesus said the actions of the Pharisee went for naught because of his attitude and braggart in doing them. OUCH!

There is a lot of truth to the cliché “a good deed is its own reward.” Sure we all appreciate a good pat on the back, a kind “thank you,” or acknowledgement of our actions, but when we come to expect such a response for what should be our Christian duty we come dangerously close to being like our Pharisaical friend. Good deeds should just naturally flow (holding open a door for someone, helping out when needed without being asked, etc.) without any expectation of thanks or repayment. In so doing we are becoming more like Christ.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” –Colossians 3:23

Ain't No Half Steppin

A half-truth is a whole lie. – Anon

When Jesus stated “these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me,” it wasn’t a one time occurrence. WOW!

We all know from our school and life lessons in logic that if any part of a statement is false, the whole statement is false. We should remember that deception in any form is a tool of the enemy. Half-truths are often told with the intent to deceive in some form or fashion. Unfortunately, many people seem to like living their lives this way. When we live by our own sense of morality, our own brand of truth, or our own standard of justice; and claim to belong to Christ also, we’re only half-right and in actuality only deceiving ourselves. Jesus said His way was the “ONLY” way. The Christian ‘life’ is in word and deed, not word only.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“…‘The most important {truth},’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength….Love your neighbor as yourself…” – Mark 12:29-31

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotional this week at 9AM.

A Thankless Job

Beware every time you notice yourself doing a good thing because you ruin it by the notice. – O. Chambers

Jesus said the actions of the 'righteous' Pharisee went for naught because of his attitude and bragging in doing them. OUCH!

There is a lot of truth to the cliché “a good deed is its own reward.” Sure we all appreciate a good pat on the back, a kind “thank you,” or acknowledgement of our actions, but when we come to expect such a response for what should be our Christian duty or we talk them up like we just saved the world, we come dangerously close to being like our Pharisaical friend. Good deeds should just naturally flow (holding open a door for someone, helping out when needed without being asked, etc.) without any expectation of thanks or repayment. In so doing we are becoming more like Christ.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” –Colossians 3:23