What is good?

Good.

What is Good?

Actions? Doing and saying the right thing?

Or is it deeper than that? Should we look beyond actions to the intentions behind them?

I suppose if we consider that evil intentions are sometimes hidden behind actions that appear good, then we really should look beyond the action itself. Or should we? Sometimes I do something intending it to be a good thing; and yet, somewhere between my intention and my action wires get crossed. The action I commit is nothing like my intention at all. Do my pure intentions outweigh the wrong actions? Do they render the wrong action to a good one despite the apparent lack of goodness in the outcome?

Should we go deeper?

Can we?

Is it that which spurs our intentions to action? The motivation behind it all? Such a tricky thing to consider - motivation. Can we truly pinpoint our motivations? We think we can, but do we fool ourselves? I think so.

I like to think of myself as a good person. A good person who does the right thing because of good intentions and a pure motivation.

Who am I kidding?

If I am brave enough to lay everything aside and stop lying to myself. If I look deep enough at who I am - REALLY look at myself. I would have to admit that which is left - when all the facade is striped away - is anything but good.

Those things which are the core of my being are putrid. Evil. Sinful. There is nothing good in me. No pure motivation, No good intentions. No good actions.

Nothing.
Good.
At.
All.

All the effort in the world couldn't make me any better. There simply isn't any good thing in me. That which appears good is generally evil masquerading itself. I am to smart to sin openly and obviously. I am a master of disguise. I am human flesh.

But that is not all I am.
I am more than just flesh and bone.
By the Grace of God I am more difficult to understand.
I am a complicated individual.

You see...When I chose to believe that Jesus Christ was God in flesh. That He died for my sins. That by His own power was raised from the dead... my life was filled with HIS righteousness. I became a spiritual being.

I am complicated because at the core of who I am, I am two people. I have two separate identities inside of me. Clashing trying to establish dominance. My flesh waring against God's Spirit.

At any given moment, in making any given decision I have a choice to make.

I can choose to indulge my flesh.
I can satisfy my longing for what I want. What feels right. What feels good. What is enjoyable. What is easiest. That which is desirable. To my advantage. Good for me right here, right now. In this brief moment in time.

Or

I can submit to God's spirit.
I can choose to make the decision God wants for me based on the Truth found in His Word. It might not be what I initially want. I might have to make a tough choice. I might have to bite my tongue, turn the other cheek, or go without something I think I want. It might be harder. It might take longer.

But
Its
ALWAYS
Worth
It
!

Submitting to the Spirit is NOT denying my flesh the good things in life. It is NOT depriving my flesh of enjoyment. Nor is it declining the option of satisfaction.

Here
on earth
we are tormented
by evil.

There is a deceiver that tricks us into believing that satisfying our flesh makes us happy. That what we want in life is what we need. That submitting to God is giving up something wonderful for that which is less desirable.



What a travesty.


Gluttonously feeding our fleshly desires may lead to satisfaction for a while. You can bet that desperation is always stealthily creeping up from behind. You won't see it coming until its to late. The flesh is never EVER satisfied. It always needs more. Can you argue otherwise?

My God doesn't want to take something from you.
He wants to give you something.


Satisfaction.

In my heart and mind I know these things. I know that war is being waged inside of me. I know His Spirit in me will ultimately triumph over this flesh. Why then does the battle continue? Why can I not conquer my flesh now? Once and for all! I know my flesh wreaks havoc within me. I feel the Spirit's prodding. I know that submitting to the Spirit is my only chance at true joy. Why then is it that I remain so vile and putrid at my core.

Why do I continue then, to do those things which I know I shouldn't. Why don't I do those things that I KNOW I should.*

Pride... a dirty little monster that lurks in the shadow's of my being. Pleasure and satisfaction derived from my achievements, admired qualities and possessions. My dignity. My importance. My very own personal thorn in the flesh


Know this:

No matter how things appear, I am nothing but a dirty rotten stinking sinner. If you could see just a smidgen of who I really am you would not make eye contact with the likes of me.

If you see a glimmer of good in me.

It is NOT me at all.

It is HIM.