Good and Beautiful Community | Wednesday | 9/30

Follow Because It Is Good

Micah 6:6–8

With what should I approach the Lord

        and bow down before God on high?

Should I come before him with entirely burned offerings,

        with year-old calves?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

        with many torrents of oil?

Should I give my oldest child for my crime;

        the fruit of my body for the sin of my spirit?

He has told you, human one, what is good and

        what the Lord requires from you:

            to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.

In 1939, Dietrich Bonhoeffer escaped Germany and traveled to America.

Staying there would have been safer. Returning to Germany meant placing himself in tremendous danger.

And yet, after only a few weeks, Bonhoeffer went back.

Why?

Because he became convinced that leaving might protect him from suffering, but returning was the good and faithful thing for him to do. He wanted to remain with Christians resisting Hitler and participate in whatever future might emerge after Nazism.    

His decision would eventually cost him his life.

Most of us will never face a decision that dramatic. But we face smaller versions of it every day.

Will I do what's easiest or what's right?

Will I protect my comfort or make room for someone else?

Will I hold onto resentment or begin the difficult work of forgiveness?

Will I remain silent or speak with courage and love?

We don't pursue goodness because goodness guarantees an easy life.

We pursue the good because God is good.

Reflect: 

Before one decision today, intentionally ask: What is the good thing to do? How does that change your answer?

Pray: 

God, shape my desires so that I want what is good. When goodness is costly, give me courage. When goodness is inconvenient, give me patience. Let my life reflect your benevolence toward the world. Amen.