But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
“Active good is better than passive. Only God himself, his angels, and saints, do good; but all creatures can receive good. This principle would quickly join us; for if this were in men’s hearts, they would study to do all the good they could to one another, and to gain upon on another’s hearts; and the more good we do to any, the more will our hearts be inclinable to love them. The very communication of goodness, if it be out of a good spirit, carries the heart along with it to the subject this good is communicated to. The more good God doth to any, the more he loves them. So it is with us in our proportion. If you take a poor child from the dunghill, or out of the alms-house, and make him your heir, you do not only this good to him because you love him, but you love more because you look upon him as the object of your goodness, as one raised by you.”
Francis Asbury (1745-1816) in The Causes, Evils, and Cures of Heart and Church Divisions (New York: Carlton & Phillips, 1855) 95-96.
It seemed fitting to read from this classic work of Francis Asbury whilst sitting on the seminary campus that bears his name.
Active good. As I reflected on that this morning, three thoughts overtook me.
Firstly, God is good and always loving toward us. He actively demonstrated His love to us through the sacrificial death of Jesus on our behalf, when we were undeserving.
Secondly, when we follow His example and be actively good toward others (rather than our proclivity to passivity) it changes both us and them. It shows love and releases an abundance of blessings to all.
Thirdly, we must all realize that we are nothing but poor children from the dunghill or the alms-house, whom God made an heir through Christ and who are the object of His goodness.
Soak in these three thoughts for a while.
I pray it inspires us to be actively good today because God is good and loving toward us, it transforms everyone in the process, and He wants us as His heirs to receive and share His goodness and generosity.