Good and Beautiful Community | Tuesday | 9/29

Love the Community You Actually Have

Good Doesn't Always Feel Good

Luke 9:23–24

²³ Jesus said to everyone, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will save them.

We naturally move toward pleasure and away from pain.

That isn't necessarily wrong. Nobody needs to seek suffering simply for suffering's sake.

But Jesus never promises that what is good will always feel good.

Forgiveness can hurt.

Reconciliation can be uncomfortable.

Generosity can cost us something.

Discipleship can confront things within us we would rather leave untouched.

Jesus even describes following Him as denying ourselves and taking up a cross.

So we cannot determine whether something is good simply by asking whether it makes us happy or comfortable.

Sometimes love leads us directly toward something difficult because another person will be protected, encouraged, welcomed, forgiven, or shown grace.

Goodness is benevolence. It is big-heartedness.

The question isn't always, “Will this make my life easier?”

Sometimes the better question is simply:

“What is the good thing to do?”

Reflect: 

Is there something good God may be asking of you that you've resisted because it is uncomfortable or costly?

Pray: 

Jesus, teach me to pursue what is good, not simply what is comfortable. Give me courage to love when love costs something and faithfulness to follow you even when the way is difficult. Amen.