Don't be a Goat

I just wanted to share some thoughts I have had the last couple of days and this morning as I try to get back in the Word.

Just like the Israelites after the battle at Jericho, God expects me to be obedient. Sometimes I can forget the real purpose why God demands obedience: which is to change my focus from thinking about myself to being concerned for and loving others.

Matthew 25:31-46 - "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

I don't want to be a goat!

Am I putting my will ahead of God's? Or am I doing what He thinks is most important? Not doing what I know is right is putting my will ahead of God's. It shows God that I don't have the desire or character to put His will ahead of mine. And honestly it shows that I am unwilling to completely surrender myself. After Jericho, the Israelites suffered the consequences of disobedience and putting their will ahead of God's. And I too have suffered consequences in my life.

James 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

James says that faith without godly works is useless and worthless. Such faith is of no lasting value because it does not change me (the individual). It is through action (ie, through doing the good that I know I ought to do) that God builds His nature and character within me. If I want to get rid of my selfish, sinful nature, then I have to replace it with something else. I can't just expect to instantly get rid of it without replacing it with God's nature (His thoughts and ways).

Galatians 5:16 - "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.". Paul says that God's Spirit working within me will help me recognize sin and avoid it so I no longer give in to its desires.

God wants me to become a more compassionate, caring and loving person... reflecting His way of life. He wants me to become more like Jesus, who gave His life as a living sacrifice for ALL. There are many opportunities for me to do good: to encourage, strengthen, help, give and show love for those in need. When I do these things, I am sacrificing my time and energy for the well-being and benefit of others. This is the standard God has set for me. Whenever I compromise this standard it makes it easier to compromise it the next time... and the next... etc... Compromise grows like a cancer. As with the Israelites, God commanded them to cut it off and wipe out the sin. I desire to do the same.

David Garcia