Do Good

Recently I had to take a relative to the urgent care clinic.  Due to pandemic restrictions in the waiting room, I was sitting in the car under a street light waiting for a call or text to come pick up my patient after treatment. While I waited, I surfed my phone, texted, and returned a phone call to pass the time.  I opened a novel and began to read.  I felt the gray-haired man in the next car staring at me and as I turned to him he motioned for me to roll down my window.  As I did, I felt the nudge of God on my heart to get involved. 
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The man’s wife had been in the urgent care for hours and she took both the keys and cell phone with her.  He asked me to call her cell phone for an update.  I tried that.  I sent a text to the same number.  Knowing that she might not answer a call from an unknown number, I suggested to the man that maybe he should go into the facility to check on her.  That’s when he revealed he couldn’t walk because he had multiple sclerosis. 

Feeling that warm nudge in my heart again, I asked if he had a wheelchair with him.  As I pushed him into the urgent care, I was reminded that God does not waste anything.  What I thought of as hours to kill was really an opportunity to show kindness toward a worried husband.

Have you ever felt that nudge from God urging you to act?  Maybe it was even in a situation where you didn’t think the circumstances were ideal for you to get involved or you had other plans for your time.

In the letter to Titus, Paul had one goal in mind—to continue mentoring Titus in his new role as pastor of the church he had founded on Crete.  Paul recognized that discipleship is an ongoing process and wanted to provide Titus with explicit instructions on his new role as a Christian leader.  Sometimes even believers need to be reminded of the simple instructions of how to “love thy neighbor.”  Titus 3:1-2 prompts us to right behaviors:  “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” 

So why would Paul have to tell Titus something that seems so basic in the Christian life? Because he knew we have the tendency to drift toward being self-absorbed.  As women we often wear more than one hat at a time.  Wife, mother, teacher, friend, chauffeur, cook, caregiver, and employee are just a few of the roles that fill a busy mom’s schedule.  Having a full life does not excuse us from being obedient when God asks us to stop and share His love with someone else.  Paul’s reminder is meant to jog the memory and guide our behaviors in encounters with other people.  Jesus wants us to carry ourselves with humility and kindness to share his love with others through gentle interactions. 

If you have ever felt that nudge and missed it, or dismissed it, learn from that regret.  Make the decision now to say “yes” when you feel that prompt or whisper from God.  What would it look like to do good today?  What action might you take to move from passive intention to active obedience?  I encourage you to make that shift in your heart so you can become the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Memory verse:  “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2 NIV

About the Author

It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Dana Schaefer.  My husband Chris and I make our home in northwest Georgia along with our two children ages 14 and 10.  Professionally I serve as Academic Dean at Heritage Bible College.  I love digging deeper into Biblical contexts to see how the ancient words and practices impact our modern lives.  A perfect afternoon would include a good book, a porch swing and a glass of peach tea!

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