"Good works"...wonder what that really means? There are all kinds of good works, aren't there? What about the good works that non-Christians accomplish...I mean we have to admit that happens, right?
Certainly it does. There are people who every day do nice, good things who profess no faith in God, and others who profess faith, but not in Jesus Christ as God's Son. Does their non-faith disqualify their meritorious acts as being labeled as "good"? No, we can honor non-believers who exhibit kind, compassionate behavior through their acts of generosity and feelings for their fellow humanity as "good people"...they are.
I think the thing to note in this verse is that just as it states that as believers in Jesus we have become "God's workmanship" (objects of His work, His labor), we then are given His work to do. His work is the ultimate good work, and unfortunately, non-believers are not able to participate in His work. Those tasks are reserved for those who have come to belief and have been recreated through their faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son.
While there are good people who do good works outside of faith in Jesus, the only ones who can do God's good work are those who have become His workmanship, who bear the mark of His hand on their lives, showing where He has whittled away the things in our lives that keep us from being able to completely follow His directives.
And what is God's work? Anything and everything that brings more people to the knowledge of the gospel and it's saving power (Matthew 28:19-20). Anything and everything that follows the greatest command: to love God above everything else, and secondly to love others more than ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). If we can analyze our deeds and see that they fall into these categories, we can be assured that we are doing the good works that God has set before us. These are works that are pleasing to Him, and that bring Him glory. These are works that the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to as we go through our days.
When your eyes are opened, when your spirit is prompted by His, move. Do the task that He has set before you. Your faith will be affirmed - your convictions deepened as you follow in obedience.
Good works or God works? They can be the same - they can be separate. I want good, God works to lay before my Father when I arrive at His throne. The works that He gave me to do and that I didn't miss doing for Him. I hope I have a few...just so I can bring them to Him with a smile of pleasure on my face in the presentation. What a wonderful feeling that will be to have something, anything, to offer my King as a very small token of my appreciation of the Gift He has given me....Jesus....and through Jesus, the right to be called His child.
It makes me start to think differently of how I am spending the very precious gift of time...while it is today, I have time to work for Him!
Certainly it does. There are people who every day do nice, good things who profess no faith in God, and others who profess faith, but not in Jesus Christ as God's Son. Does their non-faith disqualify their meritorious acts as being labeled as "good"? No, we can honor non-believers who exhibit kind, compassionate behavior through their acts of generosity and feelings for their fellow humanity as "good people"...they are.
I think the thing to note in this verse is that just as it states that as believers in Jesus we have become "God's workmanship" (objects of His work, His labor), we then are given His work to do. His work is the ultimate good work, and unfortunately, non-believers are not able to participate in His work. Those tasks are reserved for those who have come to belief and have been recreated through their faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son.
While there are good people who do good works outside of faith in Jesus, the only ones who can do God's good work are those who have become His workmanship, who bear the mark of His hand on their lives, showing where He has whittled away the things in our lives that keep us from being able to completely follow His directives.
And what is God's work? Anything and everything that brings more people to the knowledge of the gospel and it's saving power (Matthew 28:19-20). Anything and everything that follows the greatest command: to love God above everything else, and secondly to love others more than ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). If we can analyze our deeds and see that they fall into these categories, we can be assured that we are doing the good works that God has set before us. These are works that are pleasing to Him, and that bring Him glory. These are works that the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to as we go through our days.
When your eyes are opened, when your spirit is prompted by His, move. Do the task that He has set before you. Your faith will be affirmed - your convictions deepened as you follow in obedience.
Good works or God works? They can be the same - they can be separate. I want good, God works to lay before my Father when I arrive at His throne. The works that He gave me to do and that I didn't miss doing for Him. I hope I have a few...just so I can bring them to Him with a smile of pleasure on my face in the presentation. What a wonderful feeling that will be to have something, anything, to offer my King as a very small token of my appreciation of the Gift He has given me....Jesus....and through Jesus, the right to be called His child.
It makes me start to think differently of how I am spending the very precious gift of time...while it is today, I have time to work for Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment