Imperfect People Can Do Good Things

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 36 

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up." (2 Chronicles 36.23) 

Devotional Thought: We were working hard, and trying to beat the rain.  No problem... The forecast didn't call for rain at all that morning.  Thunder sounded in the distance, and my helper asked me: "What job can you be wrong half the time and still get a raise?"  He answered his own question, "The weatherman!" 

Nobody performs perfectly, do they?  Even professional golfers hit the fairway only about two thirds of the time.  All-star basketball players only make a little over half their shots.  And, the very best hitters in baseball only get hits about a third of the time!  We accept that in weather and sports.  Why, then, do we write people off whose views do not perfectly align with ours?  Why do we castigate our political and ideological foes?  Why do we "deplatform" them and demand that others reject them, too? 

King Cyrus was not a perfect man.  He was not even a godly man.  Yet, God used this flawed human being to accomplish something great - the return of God's people to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  

That is good news on at least two fronts...

• First, you can stop looking for perfect people to get the job done.  The pressure is off, for these perfect people don't exist!  But, relax!  Imperfect people can do good things.

• Second, you don't have to be perfect yourself to accomplish something good for God's kingdom.  As a matter of fact, God's strength is made perfect in your weakness!  (See 2 Corinthians 12.9.)  So, relax!  Imperfect you can do good things!

Of course, we don't want to use this as an excuse to dishonor God, or offend people, or do shoddy work.  All should be done to the glory of God! 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you alone are perfect.  Help me, in all my imperfections, to be willing and available for you to do something good in me and through me.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 82:1-8

1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;

7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince."

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!