August 2, 2020 -- John 5:28-29 -- Resurrection Life Now

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:28 English Standard Version

What is the good that we must do? What is the good that demonstrates we are those who will rise up in Christ to resurrection life that will stretch into eternity? The greatest good we must do is this: believe Jesus is the Son sent by the Father. Our work is to believe in Him. There is an immediate result that will happen in consequence of that decision. The one who believes in Jesus will be led by the Spirit to love God with all we have and all we are and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

Can anyone do this perfectly? No. We are aware that even our best works and sweetest intentions are tainted with evil. However, it is the accomplished work of Jesus Christ applied to us which lifts us from doing evil works that will be judged to becoming those whose works are credited to Jesus’s account.

Recently I was watching someone explain to her friends she was on a diet. She was counting calories and intended to lose a lot of weight. As she went back to the buffet for a third helping, the raised eyebrows of her friends prompted her to note, okay, today at the buffet I’ve used up my calories count for every day into next week. It is a sad joke with a poignant point. That woman wanted to be slimmer, but she did not believe she would ever be slimmer. What she did flowed from her commitment to remaining heavy.

What we do flows out of us based on what we think. If we believe ourselves to be children of the Lord of Heaven and Earth, then our actions, our words and the ways we restrain ourselves in obedience to Jesus will reflect our deep commitment to Him. Those are the commitments and the actions of believers who do good.

Blessed Jesus we honour You and praise You as the One Who perfectly revealed the Father. We bless You, Father in heaven, for Your persistent grace and love. We bless You, Spirit of Truth, for leading us in the way of Jesus Christ. Triune God, transform our will and our thoughts so that we will find all our delight in glorifying You and delighting in Your forever. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gu0nOaFsI