We human beings are to do what is good. It is unlikely
we would find much argument with that statement.
But how are we to do it? Or more to the point, why is it so
hard for us to do good? to be good? If we look around us, we
do not need to look far to see that wasted lives, inhumanity,
corruption, and evil are very much a part of our society, from
the small family unit and the neighborhood to the national
and global levels.
Perhaps we have misinterpreted our role in the task.
James tells us that all good deeds have their origin in God.
Even as God created the universe by a word: “God said . . .
and it was,” so now in our midst the word of truth from God
causes a fallen world to be good. If our hearts are hospitable
to that word of truth, then God’s own goodness begins to
recreate us.
We are to rid ourselves of all that opposes the good word,
to pull out the weeds of anger and sinfulness like a good
gardener who wishes to make room for the good seed. The
good seed is God’s word. We cannot create it for ourselves—
only make room and welcome it. That is task enough.
By Catherine Gunsalus González from The Upper Room: 60 Days of Prayer for General Conference 2016