There’s always the temptation to get ahead at work or school by taking ungodly shortcuts.
This sometimes even happens within extended families when it comes to social ranking or popularity with the wealthy, aging grandparents.
It’s always better, of course, when we take the high road in all of our plans.
The challenge is to actually live this way on a 100 percent basis.
God helps us in that direction with encouraging, equipping verses sprinkled throughout the Bible. Such a passage surfaced in today’s reading from the One-Year Bible.
“Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
“But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.” (Isaiah 32:7-8)
Noble people making noble plans that produce noble deeds. Hmmmm……. I love how God promises that this sequence will result in a faith that will not be crushed by calamity and corruption.
It’s very clear that we should be noble.
How do we do that?
Philippians 4:8-9 comes to mind:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me —put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
We don’t have to be political royalty to live as nobility. Instead, it is our humility before God that so often leads to our nobility in His sight.
As we act like Jesus, the King of the ages, then our noble nature will overflow with noble plans that produce noble deeds.
And then we will stand in God’s presence forever.
As always, I love you
Martin
