I can’t manipulate GOD so I follow HIM.

Galatians 6: ⁷Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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Dark hallways filled with silence were disturbed by my sweeping and dusting during my daily route as a janitor. My supervisor was a trusting soul who gave me the easiest buildings to clean. I was finished with the assignment and still had half my shift left.

“I know” I thought to myself… “I’ll go home, eat, watch TV and return, no one will know!” Bad move!

• I can fool people but I can’t fool GOD.
• My deception only hurts me because GOD can hold it against me.
• Every sin that I do drives me further and further away from having an “abundant” life.

After deceiving my supervisor I soon found out how disappointed he was that he trusted me and I took advantage of him. Now answer this… could I spread the great news about JESUS CHRIST to him? NO! What a waste. I could no longer be effective or used by GOD with him.

• GOD sees everything I do and knows every hidden thought.
• Every relationship, no matter how antagonistic, needs to be handled with GOD’s love in mind.
• GOD brings people in my life for HIS purpose and it’s up to me to show my faith in HIM.

After that ordeal, I tried to swing the pendulum in the other direction. Whenever I did something wrong, I would try to get out of trouble by doing “good.” I figured that if I did something wrong, then I could balance it by doing some good stuff. I could essentially have my cake and eat it too.

• GOD sees through my plot to manipulate HIM with my “good” acts.
• HE wants me to do “good” in order for people to be drawn to HIM.
• When I try to do “good” in efforts to manipulate GOD, I get tired of doing “good” quickly.

The purpose for doing “good” is to help a hurting world. If life is “all about me” then I will quickly get tired of helping others. GOD gives me the strength to perform HIS acts of love and I benefit from HIS blessings!

• Are you tired of doing “good?”
• Why are you being good?
• Are you secretly trying to manipulate GOD into giving you the thing you want?
• Can you do good to be an example of GOD today?