Improving

The opening quote stirred a question in my mind–what does being a “better person” in God’s eyes mean?

He gave us the Ten Commandments as a great guide–BTW they are commandments, not suggestions. And then He talks about some additional items that “religious” people often screw up in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 6 —

• 1-“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.”
• 2-“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by men.”
• 5-“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.”
• 16-“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.”
• 19-“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”
• 24-“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
• 25-“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. 27-Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Matthew 7–

• 1-“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

So it seems as though I can grow as a person in God’s eyes if I don’t do the things he talks about in the above scripture while adhering to the Ten Commandments…not an easy task for this radical sinner who doesn’t like to be told what not to do. 🙂

So what can we do to give us a shot at living as a better person as each day passes?

Years ago I was researching the meaning of “godly.” The word godly is used throughout scripture. I found godly came from the Greek work eusebia which meant to have reverent awe of God and to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

I’ve never had trouble being in awe of God but how could I possibly live a life that is pleasing to him?

During that same study of the word “Godly,” I was directed to Micah 6:8,

• Micah 6:8, (The Message) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.”
• Micah 6:8, (New International Version)–“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

From Micah 6:8 I created three Guiding Principles for my life. I use these principles to guide my thoughts, words, and deeds.

1. Do Right
2. Give Mercy
3. Be Humble

My blogs are written for me just as much as I write them for you. This blog was a refresher for me.

…I still have some work to do.

1 Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.‘”

P.E.A.C.E.

Jay@EagleLaunch.com