Doing Good 12/4-6

04-06 December 2016 – Doing Good – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Peter 3:17 “It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (NKJV).

I was reading a story about an army officer who was in prison for 8 years—for doing good. Why was he in prison then?  Some of his superiors, who were corrupt with drugs and took bribes from the drug runners, ordered him to turn his head to let them move their drugs.  So what happened that caused him to be in prison?

An army officer and his troops were deployed or taken into a special place to deal with heavy drug trafficking, and his intention was to bring justice to that area.  He and his troops began dealing with the criminals to protect the people.

That was when an army officer discovered that some of his superiors took a large sum of money so they allowed the drug runners to continue their “business.”  He was arresting the drug runners, but his superior ordered him to let them go.  He repeatedly refused until he was finally arrested and imprisoned for 8 years—for doing good. 

If Apostle Peter was reading this story, Peter would have understood that kind of heartache because he, having also been jailed for doing good.  Peter gave us this verse: “It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17).

As an army officer shared the stories of what God taught him in prison, Bill Crowder quoted, “I learned that the justice of God is not hampered by the evil of men.  Doing good is still pleasing in His sight—even when we’re mistreated by the world for it.”

Dorothy: “The justice of God is not hampered by the evil of men.” I’ll interpret this: Men who have done evil work will not get away with their “wrong doing” because God’s justice will come at the right time against them.  So while we are still on earth, God is pleased that we continue “doing good,” even if we are not treated right by others.

This devotion has impressed me to sing the song of “Standing on the Promises” because I was inspired that the army officer had stood on His Word during his 8 years of prison.  Peter encouraged us to continue “doing good” even if others are not so nice to us.  God knows what they have done, yet He wants us to keep on “doing good.” 

Song: Standing on the Promises

  [Lyrics and Music: Russell Kelso Carter, Sing His Praise]

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

Stand - ing, stand - ing,

Standing on the promises of God my Savior;

Stand - ing, stand - ing,

I’m standing on the promises of God. 

God bless you as you stand on His promises!