Trust and also Do Good.

Today, I find solace in Psalm 37—a hopeful and honest reminder. The Psalmist writes:

"Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away."

We are reminded that all people are temporary. All violence will be brought to justice; all evil will wither. In God’s perfect plan, every attempt to use others for our benefit will ultimately be undone. All harm will be repaired. All brokenness restored.

Everything that is and everything that will be is grounded in perfect Trinitarian love. So, what should we do? The Psalmist instructs us:

"Trust in the Lord and do good."

Trust that God is at work in our world. Trust that His justice will prevail. Trust that love is the final word and that evil will melt away like snow before a cleansing fire.

But the Psalmist doesn’t stop there. We are also called to "do good."

Be part of the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God. Fight for justice. Feed the hungry. Offer hospitality to the alienated. Speak for those who have been silenced. Take Jesus seriously when He proclaims:

"to proclaim good news to the poor,
...to proclaim freedom for the prisoners,
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
(Luke 4:18)

Trust and Do Good. This is our calling. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:

“It does not matter what others do, but what we do. Do that which is good, without fear, and without limit or reserve. What right have we to blame the government when we do not that which is good ourselves? How can we pass judgment on others when we invite the same condemnation on ourselves? If you want to be fearless, do good.”

This is the essential work, friends. This is why we are here. This is what it means to follow Jesus. This is holy work.