I can still recall the 'snide' remarks my friends and I would spew out at them, "Oh you must be Miss Goodie Two Shoes" or "Who are you; Mr. Goodie, Goodie" or " You Brown-noser". And who exactly were these individuals who received these verbal jabs? I remember them very well. They were the ones who went 'over and beyond' the accepted and did something noticeably good for someone else, naturally. And was there anything wrong with what they had done? No, not at all. Yet I was determined not to be identified with such a group; I wanted no part of being called as a "Do Gooder"!
And that mindset actually stayed with me for many, many years, even decades...until I read and discovered something about Jesus:
Peter speaking to Cornelius said, "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about(as He passed through) doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Acts 10:38 and,
"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written." John 21"25
Revelation Lee!...Jesus was a "Do Gooder"!!!
In the very category of people who I 'rolled my eyes at' and wanted to avoid...I found Jesus as a Member. And not only a Member, but the Charter Member, the Exemplary Member. You see, the skies do not have enough stars to count how many good things Jesus did; the world does not contain enough lead for the pencils to write the books about all that Jesus did.
So how many good deeds did Jesus do? Immeasurable. How many Acts of Random Kindness? Countless. How many different people did Jesus help? Only God knows.
The apostle Paul's short letter to Titus has become one of my favorite books of the New Testament. I have read and reflected deeply on these words of encouragement and instruction that he wrote to this young evangelist:
"...in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds..."
"...Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."
"...I want to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds."
"And let our so learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful."
To find myself, after reading and honestly studying these(and other) Scriptures, not eagerly pursuing good deeds(acts of kindness) for others, would tell me that I completely misunderstand the very heart of Jesus. I would have to also conclude that I totally missed the spirit of the Spirit of God. Furthermore, that I have no idea of the purpose for which I have been called; for Paul also wrote:
"...we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk(around) in them." Ephesians 2:10
Therefore, God welcomes each of us into His kingdom as Mister or Miss "Do Gooder"!
