How to Have an Outstanding Life

We all try to do what’s right, no? Well, I think we do what’s right if it benefits us. If it doesn’t, we do our best to hide what we’re doing. Everyone has a threshold. What is yours? Have you examined your “do what is right” threshold?

I’m sitting here at Whole Foods Marketplace in Naples, Florida and it is fun to observe humans. OK, I know. I am one. I’m the first to admit I still catch myself not doing the right thing. I cut corners I shouldn’t cut. God is working on me.

The basis for doing what is right is what we commonly call the Golden Rule. Do unto others – or do things the right way.

This is the biggest concept I learned recently. I am making a conscious effort to try to do what is really right – at any expense.

There are the 10 Commandments, but you probably have a list, too. Comment below. I know that a big one is trying to show you did something, but you really didn’t do it – like claiming something on your income so your tax burden will be lighter.

What would happen if we all drove the speed limit? Followed all the signs – entrance and exit? Didn’t cut in line? Didn’t cheat. Returned things that didn’t belong to us? Take only what we need? And a ton more.

Then there are more serious “sins.” We know better, but we keep asking God to forgive us. Yes, He does, and the fact is He knows we cannot be perfect. But He does have plenty to say about repeatedly performing the same sin. I was in a rut for a spell – where I would do what I knew was wrong – then ask God to forgive and keep going. He says that’s a problem.

He can forgive and will, but when you continually (habitually) do the wrong thing, it ticks God off. And you don’t want to do that.

Hebrews 10:

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Well, I suppose if I were God it would upset me too, if people abused the fact that Christ paid for all sin, and we accepted the gift but kept on messing up knowing that all we had to do is say – hey, sorry about that!

What are your thoughts?