Tuesday, April 1
Genesis 49:29-50:14
Psalms 94, 95, 97, 99,100
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Mark 8:1-10
Genesis 49:29-50:14
Psalms 94, 95, 97, 99,100
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Mark 8:1-10
After meditating on today’s readings, I came away with an emphasis
on the acceptability of our actions versus our intentions. Our actions
fall into 1 of 4 possibilities. Doing the right thing for the right
reason and doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason are the easy
ones. I hope we all know where they should fall on our consciences.
But the harder questions are whether it is OK to do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason. We have now left the childlike black and white way of viewing things. The first issue is whether or not you think morality lies in intention or result. Is it OK to lie to protect someone’s feelings? Should you apologize if you aren’t really sorry? Is a donation to a worthy cause good if you only made it to impress others?
I believe God judges our heart. It is always better to do an act of kindness than an act of evil. But if the act of kindness has selfish or prideful motives then we should examine our feelings and ask God for forgiveness. If we truly love others the way God wants us to, we will do the right things for the right reasons.
The good news is that Christ died to redeem all our sins. We are only human and WE WILL do wrong. But there is nothing that is unforgivable in God’s eyes if we are truly sorry in our heart of hearts and ask for forgiveness. Follow your heart and you actions will speak for themselves.
Claire Martin
But the harder questions are whether it is OK to do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason. We have now left the childlike black and white way of viewing things. The first issue is whether or not you think morality lies in intention or result. Is it OK to lie to protect someone’s feelings? Should you apologize if you aren’t really sorry? Is a donation to a worthy cause good if you only made it to impress others?
I believe God judges our heart. It is always better to do an act of kindness than an act of evil. But if the act of kindness has selfish or prideful motives then we should examine our feelings and ask God for forgiveness. If we truly love others the way God wants us to, we will do the right things for the right reasons.
The good news is that Christ died to redeem all our sins. We are only human and WE WILL do wrong. But there is nothing that is unforgivable in God’s eyes if we are truly sorry in our heart of hearts and ask for forgiveness. Follow your heart and you actions will speak for themselves.
Claire Martin