The story goes, a high school senior along with other young people from her church participated in some community service projects and gave a report to their local church. Afterwards the high school senior heard a man saying, “Aren’t you glad these kids aren’t out smoking pot or drinking, but are instead doing service for our community?”

That comment just broke my heart because there truly is a level of mediocrity that has infiltrated not just our culture, but our churches as well. Being considered a “good person” only requires that we don’t do “bad stuff” like taking drugs, drinking, and wild partying. But is it enough to be known for what we don’t do, or should we be known for what we do?

Psalm 1 tells us that “blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord on His law he meditates day and night.”

Charles Spurgeon comments, “Perhaps some of you can claim a sort of negative purity, because you do not walk in the way of the ungodly; but let me ask you–Is your delight in the law of God? Do you study God’s Word? Do you make it the man of your right hand–your best companion and hourly guide?” If not, he concludes, the blessing of Psalm 1 doesn’t belong to you.

God’s Word is clear that just “not sinning” is no standard. We’re not only called to “flee from lusts” but to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.” We’re not only called to “put to death what is earthly in us” but to “put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” In order to reach God’s standard for his people and to enjoy the blessing that He promises, we must get beyond simply avoiding bad stuff. The Apostle Paul makes this calling clear when he writes, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

We must be known for what we do. Not in order to be saved, but because we are saved; not in order to earn God’s favor, but with the favor of His help.