November 21, 2024

Good Works

SeekingHimLogo

For we are God’s workmanship
created in Christ Jesus to do good works
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2: 10

I am reminded of Jeremiah 1:5…

Before I formed you I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart.

This just shows us how we were created.  In Genesis 1:26-28 God said, “Let us make man in Our image and Our likeness…”  You will notice God was giving power to man to have dominion over things and what distracted is the sinful nature of man.  However God’s compassionate love gave us Christ Jesus in Whom we are born again.  Now that we are born again, what is required of us?

1. Go back to the drawing board and see the purpose of God over our lives

2. Appreciate God for giving us the second chance

3. Fulfil the call that we have without murmuring or blabbing

The anchor Scripture for this week says we were ‘created to do good works.’  What then are the good works, those that God prepared for us to do in advance?

  • Matthew 5:16
    In the same way let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
  • 1 Timothy 6:18
    Command them to do good to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share.
  • Titus 2:7
    In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity seriousness.
  • Hebrews 10:24
    And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
  • James 2:17
    Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by good deeds, is dead.
  • James 2:18
    But someone will say you have faith I have deeds show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith but I do.

Brethren, as we are doing good works it is not unto man but it is unto God (according to the Scriptures).  Let us take up this noble call with our whole hearts and pursue the calling.

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Dear Lord, we thank You for You knew us for all times.  We thank You for You predestined us and You knew our roles on earth for each one of us.  May we come to a full understanding of the good works that we are to do.  Use us to the maximum and all to the glory of your Holy Name.  Open our eyes of understanding to see the best inside us and how we should take action.  On our own we can hardly manage; we need the Holy Spirit—Christ in us—for this to be undertaken.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Good Works

SeekingHimLogo

In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

This portion of Scripture has also reminded me of Colossians 1:10 “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work growing in the knowledge of God” and also 1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share.”

This shows us that we are required to always do good as Christians.  As we are doing that then we are doing the work of God of which we are called to do.

How do we do good works which praise the Lord?

  • Speech
  • Character
  • Attitude
  • Personality
  • Spiritual life
  • Giving

Everything we do should be pleasing unto God.  And therefore I request each one of us to search ourselves whether we have lived a life that is pleasing unto God in the previous year or not.  If not, it is not too late to come back to God and confess our sins.  (I am calling it sin since the Bible tells us, “To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17).

God is faithful and just to forgive us and give us a fresh start. Let the year 2015 be a testimony year to others because of us.

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Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for who You are—You are a great God, awesome is Your Name—marvelous, immortal, invisible, omnipresent God.  We honor You for Your good deeds and we pray, Father, that as Your children created in Your own image and likeness, that we will live a life that is pleasing unto You.  Let people give You glory and honor because of us.  Whatever we do, Lord, let it be pleasing unto You. We need Your grace, Lord!  On our own we can’t make it.  Guide us, dear Lord, always. May Your spirit that dwells in us be awakened by our spiritual life and help us to do good.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen!