In our Adult Sunday school class we are studying the book of Acts. One particular lesson was rooted in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good…” Wouldn’t that be well said of all of us…that the confession of our lives would be that we “went about doing good.” Briefly look with me at one truth found in this remarkable passage and one personal application.
- TRUTH: Jesus did good personally!
With so many disciples and followers willing to drop everything to serve their Master, it was good that He went about personally doing good. He went personally to cure the sick. He went personally to give sight to the blind. He went personally to make the lame walk. He went personally to raise the dead to life. Never did He need to go personally to do good. In fact the centurion feeling unworthy to have Jesus come personally to his home to heal his servant said, “Only say the word and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Even when asked to speak a word of healing from a distance…He did not!
- PERSONAL APPLICATION: We must do good personally!
If we are to be disciples of Jesus, we too must go about doing good. Too often we are willing to pray and even give, but not go! It was the mission of our Lord to go about doing good. It must be our mission too. Because of what God in Christ has done for us…reaching down to raise us from death to life, our response must not only be to reach up in worship and reach in through discipleship, but we must be willing to reach out in service to others. What friend needs a word of thanks from you today? What neighbor needs a word of kindness from you today? What co-worker at the office needs a word of encouragement from you today? What family member needs a word of love from you today?
It is remarkable to see that nothing deterred our Lord from going about and doing good. Not difficulty. Not danger. Not even death. The ultimate good that our Lord did He did as He hung on that dirty tree. He hung there for you and for me. When we understand the example that He left us in both life and death, what else can we do but go about personally doing good. NEVER FORGET THAT…AMEN!
Grace for the Race 
I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say,
“Even when asked to speak a word of healing from a distance…He did not!”
Concerning the incident with the centurion, from what I have read, it seems like Jesus *did* heal him from a distance. At least that’s what I gather from Matthew 8:13
Dear Learner,
First let me say thank you for reading the blog and taking the time to respond to it. Next let me make it perfectly clear that I too am a learner and speak not from Sinai.
You make a great and insightful point. Regarding the healing of the centurion’s servant we have what is called parallel accounts in both Luke 7:1-10 and Matthew 8:5-13. Matthew often condenses his accounts, and here he does not mention the intermediaries (elders) that Luke identifies. It does seem that Jesus “did” heal the centurion’s servant from a distance in both accounts…Matthew 8:13 “…And the servant was healed at that very moment” and Luke 7:10 “And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.”
It is interesting that in Luke’s account (7:6) we read, “And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house , the centurian sent friends…” Jesus in His God nature knew the faithful and humble heart of the centurian before the centurian spoke and He was on the move to demonstate His desire to do good personally. This was the point I was trying to make about Jesus going about doing good personally, where in Matthew 8:7 we read, Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” He seemed to prefer to go in person whenever possible which provides a wonderful model for us to follow.
I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing from you again.
Yes ! lt is that personal. He did come to each of us too and personally saved us. (the ‘bishop’ says thats why he accepted Christ.-because he got a’personal’ invitation to choose) I told him it was because of the ‘irresistable’ grace from the H.S. that he was even able to accept HIM. Praise HIM for all HE has done and looking with anticipation for worship and Sunday class tommorrow!
Pastor Tommy,
Thank you for going to the trouble to create and maintain a blog that’s every bit as intriguing, insightful, and POWERFULLY convicting as your Sunday School class!
Bless you, brother!