Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Right Thing For The Right Reasons

10-21-2009
Right Thing For The Right Reasons

We all make mistakes in life, but one saying I stress is to “do the right thing for the right reasons all the time.” Make sure to keep pride where pride belongs. When mistakes are made, admit it, make things right, and move forward. Moreover, don’t bite off more than you can chew, and when you do, make sure to do the right thing for the right reasons even if it’s going to make you look bad. If only King Herod had done so!

Matthew 14:1-12 says the following:

John the Baptist Beheaded
“ 1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.”

What a crazy thing to do! King Herod didn’t want to kill John the Baptist, but due to the fact that he didn’t want to look bad in front of his guests, he had John the Baptist beheaded. We all have moments in our lives where the opportunity to compromise what’s right for temporary gain meet head on. In the end, always do what’s right, even if it means back tracking and cleaning up a mess you’ve made. It’s never too late to do the right thing. If you’ve done someone wrong, confess, make it right if at all possible, and pray for forgiveness. Do not allow the sinful natures (greed, envy, pride, jealousy, etc.) of the world to allow you to compromise what’s right. Maybe you’re on the other side of this situation. Maybe you are the one that was taken advantage of or cheated. Do as Christ commands us to do and forgive the person. Do not hold a grudge as it only eats at your soul. Whether you’ve done wrong or have been done wrong remember to o the right things for the right reasons all the time!

Application:
1. Read Matthew 14:1-12
2. What messes in your life do you need to clean up?

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