How easy it for you to be convinced not to do something good? Does it take a lot of convincing or is it easy to be sidetracked? Do you have an internal conversation about the merits of doing good? Does it come down to what it may cost you?
Doing good may cost us something, though many times it is not financial. I’m talking about the daily decisions to do what we know we should within our families, our work, and our churches. We know we are to do the best we can, as though we were doing it for God (Colossians 3:23).
Despite knowing we are to do good, to work hard, to put our best foot forward, we sometimes do not. We may simply be tired. We may not have the time. We may think about the cost to us. We may be selfish, refusing to do the good we know we should do. All of this plays out in our mind, whether we acknowledge it or not. We allow worldly concerns to convince us not to do the good we should do. Our minds are the battle ground. Perhaps that is why we are told to renew our minds (Romans 12:2).
Paul warns us, through his own confession, that when we want to do good, evil is close at hand. Satan wants to stop us from doing good, whether it is being kind to family and friends, giving something to someone in need, or attending worship services or Bible studies every time the church doors are open.
Satan tells us we must put ourselves first, not God. He wants us to believe we are the most important person on this earth, not the risen Christ. He wants us to be a loner, unwilling to meet with other Christians. Satan is trying to steer us away from the body of Christ like a wolf steers the young calf away from the herd.
The only way to combat him is to ask the Holy Spirit to be our guide. We must be disciplined enough to follow Jesus. God allows us free will. However, when we come to him for help, he is always there. It is only by relying on God that we can truly do the good we know we should.
I pray we all recognize Satan’s tricks to cull us away from God. I pray we choose to follow Jesus. I pray each one of us will ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in all situations, at all times. See Satan for who he is. Recognize Satan’s tricks. Ask God for help. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Choose to follow Jesus.
Romans 7:21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.
Marty Pressey 