We can all do a little good for a little while -- at least long enough to make a few friends and establish ourselves as "decent people." Indeed, a little charity, a little service, and a little friendliness can carry us a long way. But not in God's sight.

Our ability to impress each other with a winsome smile, a kind word, a great effort, or a sacrificial act can distract us from vigilant attention to God. Indeed, as Oswald Chambers suggests, such "natural virtues antagonize surrender to God."

The heart of the gospel is not niceness or decency but death.

The good news is not only that Christ died for our sins and rose again, but that as we continually die to Christ we too shall know the power of resurrection life. Many of us accept Christ's death but resist our own, for perhaps two reasons.

First, we misunderstand the gospel. We reduce it to a series of steps that we took to be born again. However, the gospel is not a key to the door of heaven but a way of life with Christ.

Second, we may find ourselves afraid to die daily to Christ because we lack confidence in the resurrection power of the Father. Jesus' instruction to the rich young ruler to sell everything and give it to the poor seemed dreadfully risky and outrageous to the young man. What if that simply made him destitute, too? Thus, his doubt in the Father's power to bring life out of death and fullness out of emptiness produced a basic disobedience. A decent young guy ... out of step with God.

It's much easier to impress people than surrender to God. The superficial world of smiles, handshakes, and small acts of service seems safe. But to reduce our lives to decency is to live a dangerous good. What matters most to you this week? Decency or death?

The greatest gift we can offer each other (friends, colleagues, family, and spouses) emerges from our utter submission to Christ.

May God grant us the courage for crucifixion and deeper confidence in His power to create beauty from ashes and life from our deaths.

In HOPE --

David