Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Why do you seek to do well? Is it for glory? Is it for honor? Is it for immortality? Is it for eternal life? Set that aside for just a moment and try not to answer just yet.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

It is difficult to know the motivations of the heart. I know, I have lied so often about my motivations in the past that I don’t even trust myself. I admit it is difficult to seek to do good if you are not motivated. Human nature says why do a thing if nothing good will come of it. Ah, but there’s the rub.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

If you trust God and believe He is true, then His promise is this, good will come even if you do not see it. We are performance based as humans. Effort and dedication produce results. In His Kingdom however, our efforts are overshadowed by His.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Knowing this, how could I rewrite Romans 2:7 to better reflect that ultimate truth.

Romans 2:7 modified To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek God:

Ephesians 1:11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Inheritance?

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Experience tells me that when the devil brings up the mistakes of my past, the Lord must be about to do a good thing in me, thru me, or to me.

I woke up in the middle of the night, tired. I took a sip of water to refresh my dry mouth and laid back down. A flood of memories over all the stupid mistakes I made in my early years came flooding over me. That is not of God. God reminds me of scriptures that encourage me. His truth holds me firm in our loving relationship.

Influence is the only weapon Satan has in whispered lies, distractions, and sensual appetites. I know from experience that whenever Satan is on my case, God is at work for good.

Experience tells me there is nothing I can do about my past but forgive. I have forgiven myself and I have forgiven others. That is all I can do about the past. Looking back gains nothing of value to further the Kingdom unless perhaps it might be used to glorify God.

Experience tells me I did not come to this point in my life alone. It has been a journey with my Comforter, my Companion, my Guide, upon whom I depend and not myself. I can look back and give glory to God for who I am and where I am because I chose to do things His way.

If life is what you make it, what are you building? Is it a tower of self-interest or a temple of the Most High?

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

If the wisest man who ever live said that, who am I to think I could do better.