Daily Companion  |  14 May

THE RIGHT THING

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart; so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” -Proverbs 3:3, 4 

A man was traveling in his private car with an old school mate. They were stopped at the police checkpoint. His friend whispered to him, “Do the normal thing, give them something”.  “Don’t worry I will do the right thing”, he replied. A policeman approached the driver expecting to be tipped but he was handed an evangelism tract and Christians retreat handbill. The man told the policeman, “Please officer, take time to relax, read and attend that retreat”.  “Oh Okay, you are a pastor. Thank you. You can go”, the policeman passed them. His friend then said, “That was not the ‘normal thing’ I meant”. “But it was the right thing”, the christian driver said. 

Righteousness is doing the right thing even if it will cost your time, resources and energy. doing the right thing is restituting your way. Sadly, as the moral decadence continues to eat deep into the societal values, corrupt practices continue to replace the 'right thing' with the “normal thing”. Believers are often caught in the web of this growing unrighteousness sometimes called the 'usual thing'. But God warns His children against all unrighteous acts. Whatever is not right is sinful. “All unrighteousness is sin” ( 1 John 5:17). What is considered ‘the normal thing’ in your workplace, school or business environment could be wrong and sinful before God. 

As a christian with the fear of God, you are to exhibit the righteousness of God in you. Obey rules and regulations and be ready to pay the penalty for violating any law rather than bribing your way out of it. If you always do the right thing from the onset, you won’t run foul of the law. Be law-abiding. Renew your licenses as at when due. Be punctual to work and school. The law is made for the offenders, not the righteous. Our Lord said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law” “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17, 20).  Return what is wrongfully in your possession today.  Beloved, as you step out this week, prepare to do the right thing and also tell others about the right thing: the gospel.

Today’s Recite: Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8).

Today’s Morning Prayers:  My heavenly Father I thank you for a new day of grace. I ask for forgiveness for not doing the right thing before now. I ask for Your grace and boldness to always do the right thing henceforth in Jesus might name! Amen! 

Today’s Hymn: Let Other See Jesus in You

Today’s ReadMe:  Ezra 4 - 7