“Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions.”
~ T.S. Eliot
JUDGES 1-2
20Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, 21I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” 23The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.LUKE 7:1-30
JOURNAL
I recently was confronted with the idea that people are all doing the best they know how...meaning that everyone's actions are a result of them securing and doing what they believe is right and good. At first I bristled at this, thinking that so many times I have heard this and said this, when reality was that I knew better and to my estimation I was not. I have continually operated under this idea that I could get control of my actions and be perfect. Reality is...that has never happened. In fact, what I have continually discovered is that changing behavior is a grueling and difficult process, most often leaving me falling far short of the ideal.
The reason is because there are so many subtle and sub-conscious things that influence the decisions I make everyday. My past, my emotions...all derived from ingrained patterns of behavior that I do not fully and consciously understand. Therefore to think that I can just be convicted and understand right from wrong and then simply choose to do better is a pipe dream. It is far more difficult than that. Because at the end of the day, I can always look back and see where I could have done better, where I failed, where I mailed it in, where I lost focus, where I was selfish, etc. etc. There is always more that could and can be done, always more that could have been given...it never ends.
So where does that leave me and where does that leave the world? For me, it leaves me at the uncomfortable and vulnerable position of surrendering to God my best behavior and self-righteousness. It humbles me in a way that lets me know all of my righteousness is never enough. That's why I trust God and cling to a savior, because all my efforts still fall short in the end. The only thing that makes them worthy is Christ himself, the one who takes my feeble offerings and efforts and makes them righteous. It leaves me in the very simple position of focusing on today, this moment rather than tomorrow. It finally leaves me in the position of gratitude for grace and forgiveness and a God who takes my rags and crumbs and makes them enough.
Soo...thinking back through the idea that people are doing the best they can...I guess I agree and the reality is, that is why people need God and need a savior. Because the best we can do is far, far from righteous.
The reason is because there are so many subtle and sub-conscious things that influence the decisions I make everyday. My past, my emotions...all derived from ingrained patterns of behavior that I do not fully and consciously understand. Therefore to think that I can just be convicted and understand right from wrong and then simply choose to do better is a pipe dream. It is far more difficult than that. Because at the end of the day, I can always look back and see where I could have done better, where I failed, where I mailed it in, where I lost focus, where I was selfish, etc. etc. There is always more that could and can be done, always more that could have been given...it never ends.
So where does that leave me and where does that leave the world? For me, it leaves me at the uncomfortable and vulnerable position of surrendering to God my best behavior and self-righteousness. It humbles me in a way that lets me know all of my righteousness is never enough. That's why I trust God and cling to a savior, because all my efforts still fall short in the end. The only thing that makes them worthy is Christ himself, the one who takes my feeble offerings and efforts and makes them righteous. It leaves me in the very simple position of focusing on today, this moment rather than tomorrow. It finally leaves me in the position of gratitude for grace and forgiveness and a God who takes my rags and crumbs and makes them enough.
Soo...thinking back through the idea that people are doing the best they can...I guess I agree and the reality is, that is why people need God and need a savior. Because the best we can do is far, far from righteous.
8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.11The poor you will always have with you,a but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
MATTHEW 26:8-13
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