Religion, theology, and popular belief teach that we must live a "good" life. They teach all manner of things we must do to be "good". It may be that many quickly become discouraged and turn away from God because of this error. Even Jesus said in Mark 10:18b:
"NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD ALONE"
So, stop striving to be "good"! That isn't what we were called to do. So, what are we supposed to do, HOW are we to conduct ourselves as God desires?
Hebrews 12:1
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
If you were going to run a race, you would drop everything that could possibly hold you back. This includes the "sin which clings so closely". I liken this to removing an old, worn out coat; take it off, drop it, and run! You are right to be incredulous, but I will mention this again, later.
Romans 6:12, 13
[12] Let not sin therefore reign (rule) in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
HOW?
[13] Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
The manner of life we were all born into and taught, was to present ourselves, our entire physical being to sin. We functioned as instruments for unrighteousness.
In contrast, but in the same manner, we present ourselves, our entire being to GOD to function as instruments for righteousness. This should be of some comfort, because, if you were able to present yourself to sin, you are now also able to present yourself to God. How?
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you WILL NOT gratify the desires of the flesh.
This is how to "…lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely…", like casting off an old coat.
Goals
Set your spiritual goals first! This takes honesty, with yourself and with God! It's what you really desire.
As a young man, I desired to be a Godly success, but I had expectations influenced by religion and Hollywood. So, He directed my attention to a definition of success that He wanted me heed:
A successful life does not consist of the ability to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. It does not consist of having what you want whenever you want it. A successful life is enjoying doing what you ought to do.
It took me some months to accept the logic and truth of this definition. Once I did, the rest of life began to fall into place. The key in this definition is to find out "what you OUGHT to do". Of course, the answer is that "I ought to do the will of God, what God specifically wants me to do", which involves walking by the spirit. All other considerations, goals, aspirations, ambitions, become secondary. Specific decisions are made consistently in light of your spiritual goals. Decisions made in this manner can have the effect of laying aside many weights which you no longer have to carry.
"But what if I make a wrong decision or set a wrong goal?"
Don't worry about that - you will do both! God knew this and He still called you. If corrections need to be made, you can make them. The important thing is to stop trying to be good enough and get moving with God.
Once you have set your spiritual goals and made your decisions, here is how we run our race:
Hebrews 12:2, 3
[2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)
2024 Keith Radcliffe
There is much to learn here. Thank you Keith.
In a world where everyone does what he wants according to his own truth, good is impossible to define. It’s a condition with concomitant consequences well documented in Judges. A Spirit filled and directed life isn’t just a solution. It’s the only solution.