Daily Wisdom 02-19-2005 In Name Only

"Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God." III John 1:11
When the conversation arose, Pauline professed to her friends and associates to hold a belief in "a higher power."However, further questioning proved she was not very clear or convicted as to what her exact beliefs were or who that power was. Still, Pauline would hold her head piously high, never failing to remind those around her of what a good person she was.

Unfortunately, Pauline's friends and co-workers knew better, for Pauline was secretly often referred to as the ogre of the office due to her gruff and self-centered character, not to mention her wild out-of-office antics. One week Pauline would comment on how content she was in her marriage, and the following week she would brag about how she had a few too many drinks over the weekend and ended up at a motel with her husband's friend. "Why would you do that?" asked Mary, a co-worker, "I thought you and your husband, Bill, were happy together?" Pauline would laugh and reply coyly, "Bored AND happy! What he doesn't know won't hurt him!"

On another occasion a co-worker recalled a time when he and Pauline walked home together, since they lived in the same apartment building just a few blocks from their office. "There was this dirty, thin homeless man with open sores all over his face." he recalled. "It was clear he needed some assistance, food and urgent medical care. The hospital was only a few blocks out of our way so I told him to walk with us and we'd take him to where he could get some help. Pauline exclaimed that there was no way she was going to be seen with the "dirty wretch". She stomped off and called me a fool for wasting my money on someone who didn't even care about himself. I couldn't believe how cold-hearted she was." The man continued his story, "This homeless man may not have cared about himself for whatever reason, but I wanted to show him that I cared, and so did God. Besides, my faith tells me to love one another and treat others as I wish to be treated, and I would want someone to reach out to me if I was down and out. "

We are not judged by our good deeds, but our actions do reveal something about our characters. As the above Bible verse explains, those who truly love God do not involve themselves in evil.

Each of us, in our lifetime, will face a moment where we will have to chose between continuing in our sinful ways, or seeking God's merciful forgiveness so that we may go down a new path; His better way.

Don't be a believer in name only. Live the glorious life that God has in store for you by making the commitment to chose good over evil.

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr