Lent Devotion 3 - February 20, 2015

What Is Good?

Tim Wilkinson

Genesis 1, selected verses

In the beginning when God createdthe heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good.

... God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

... The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.

... God made the two great lights, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

... So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.  

... God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

... Then God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."  God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.

     A few years ago when I was thinking what I should give up for lent, I thought that I really should do something more than just give up my potato chip habit!   As I prayed about it, I felt God was speaking to me about doing something that would really challenge me and also help others. 

     As I read Genesis 1, the word "good" seemed to be the theme, it appeared over 12 times. My conclusion, not based on any great theological thought, but just some common sense, was that good must be very important to God!  With that revelation, I decided to take on "doing good" for my Lenten discipline.  I know that Do Good is one of the United Methodist General Rules and we have a print of The Rule of Life attributed to John Wesley on the wall at our house:  Do all the good you can - by all the means you can - in all the ways you can - in all the places you can - at all the times you can - to all the people you can - as long as ever you can.

     I decided to do at least one good thing for someone each and every day of lent and more than one if possible.  I prayed each morning,  "As Christ was the example of true goodness, let me follow that perfect example and give me opportunities to do good for others today."  This has been my discipline for the past two years and now the third year.  It has been amazing to see how God will open up opportunities when we pray.  It has been really exciting and challenging to wake up each day and wonder what God will do today! 

     The true lesson for me in this is that this is the way I should be living everyday.  I should be actively seeking what God is going to do each day, looking for opportunities to share my faith experience, to minister to those I can, and to help those in need.  This can be overwhelming at times for me, and I am sure for you, since our lives are so busy.  I have realized that a decision must be made everyday:  How am I going to live today?   Are my eyes open to God given opportunities to bless others? 

     At the end of the day, the potato chip habit seems pretty insignificant compared to what Christ has done for me, and for us.  Maybe God is speaking to you as well, challenging you to do something meaningful this Lenten season.  I would encourage you, challenge you, to think outside that regular Lenten box that God might give you new ideas and challenges to grow spiritually during this Holy Season.