Works are Conspicuous, Do Good Anyway

This morning was a simple read and work for understanding for me. I am to do good works regardless of how they look to the public.

“²⁴The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. ²⁵So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.” — 1 Timothy 5:24-25 (ESV)

Paul, writing to Timothy here indicates to him that the work that is done will be conspicuous, regardless of the true nature of the work being done. Those who sin as well as those who are doing good works. These will always fall of some the wrong way and will call into question the motives and work of those doing.

With this being known, there are two roads to follow. The one will lead to destruction as it is carrying out the work of the evil one. There may be short term wins as the evil one continues to keep you under his thumb. The reality of those being sins and leading to destruction may be immediate or they may come later once everything is brought into the light. Remembering that evil does not like the light and as long as there is darkness surrounding, all will seem to be fine.

Then there is the good works that are done. Yes, they too, according to Paul may be conspicuous as there will be plenty who will question the motives and sincerity of the works as we have been taught that if is seems to good to be true, then it probably is. Paul is instructing Timothy to do the good works anyway. The good works will be seen in the light and there is nothing to be concerned with. If/when these works are seen, they will impact someone with the love of Christ and it, “cannot remain hidden”. It is important to do the work of Christ and not apologize for the work.

My pastor is currently working through a sermon series of the book of James and covered James 4:13 – 5:6. In this passage and sermon, verse 17 stuck out and applies here to my study this morning.

“¹⁷So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” — James 4:17 (ESV)

I know what the right thing is to do, good works. I have simply to do them. I cannot be concerned with what others believe my motives to be. I can only to do the work and know that I am honoring God and continuing the plan He has for me in my life. He will make the work meaningful and touch those it was intended to touch and make the difference it was intended to make. My role is to simply move on to the next good work and allow God to use me and that work for His glory once again.

What are you doing in the world? Are you aware that regardless of the work you are doing, some will consider it conspicuous? What if you were to just do the good work and allow God to use that work for His glory and you just move on to the next good work?

God Works In and Through You

I know, who’d thought it. Well, Paul for one thought it and announced it to the Philippians in his letter.

“¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” — Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

I read this morning and frankly was a bit confused when I started with verse 12. Accordingly Paul says that we are to “work out your own salvation”. What work am I to do?

Well, he is not talking about doing works to gain salvation, he is referring to the discernment of gaining salvation. And as I have already determined and written here, it is through faith in God and His grace that lead to my salvation and justification in Him. So working out my own salvation is just that, having faith in Him and believing in His grace and accepting salvation that only He provides.

Now getting to verse 13 above. I am to work out my salvation and allow God to do works in my life from within me. Once I have accepted Him into my life and heart in the demonstration of my turning to Him, He begins to manifest His work throughout me from within me. I have to allow God to take over me and work for “His good pleasure”. I am His instrument and must allow for Him to do the work He has set out for me. I am just the hands for Him and am to take on that which He would have me take on.

When we allow God to work in and through us, we are provided that which He knows we will need. Recently I had Jehovah’s Witness come to my door. I understand how it can be a bit stressful to engage with someone you don’t know and certainly do not know how they will react or engage in the encounter. The hardest thing is knowing what to say to make things friendly and conversational. Well with God working in me and the relationship I have with Him I openly engaged in conversation with them and was able to share His word with them just as they were sharing His word with me. It was such a lovely conversation that as they were leaving they provided me with their personal phone number to reach out and engage more when the moment struck. Nervousness was felt on both sides, yet God worked in me and I suspect in them to remove the nervousness and create a great conversation and engagement.

It is not up to me to work for my salvation, yet it is up to me to work thanks to my salvation. God works in me to work through me to reach those in my sphere. I have to be willing to allow for that work and take it on as my armor in this world that is fully against me.

What work are you doing in this world? Are you do the work to just get by and survive and somehow earn something in return? What if you worked as the instrument of God and allowed for His work to manifest in and through you in any and all situations?

Our Works Prepared for Us Ahead of Time

“⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

This morning I was expecting again to be led to a passage to learn more about how works are not what leads to our salvation, it is faith. I was not wrong in my expectation. The passage I read in Ephesians 2 is titled in my ESV Bible is: “By Grace Through Faith”. And of course I was not disappointed in my learning.

Where I was not wrong in my expectations this morning, I did pick up on something else that hit me more squarely in the forehead. My works were/are prepared for me. Notice in verse ten above that we were created to complete works that God prepared “beforehand”. This further illustrates that I am not doing works to earn anything. I am doing works as a result of something that was completed in me, salvation through faith.

In my walk through this world, I have to remember certain things that will lead me in the direction of my kingdom purpose. One of those was more clearly revealed to me this morning. I have works to do, that were predetermined for me well before they were revealed to me. I was created by God, to do the works He has created for me.

I have, written in my Bible many notes throughout Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and the above verses are no exception. Although those notes are all centered around the premise of faith gives way to salvation and salvation leads to works for the LORD. It one note that I am drawn to for verse ten that goes along with my realizations this morning, that I had not considered until now. The note reads: “We now have a Renewed Purpose”. This purpose is to live out the works that God has prepared for me. I have to be seeking out not just to do good works for the LORD, but to do the good works “which God prepared beforehand” for me. I was selected by God and to go along with that selection, He has a plan for me and that plan has certain works directly for me.

What is your understanding of the works you are completing? Are you just going along waiting for the next? What if you were to approach every good work as the good work “which God prepared beforehand” for you?

Faith Got Us Here, Stick With It

I continue my study of “works” and the overwhelming theme is that we rely on faith and not works, and that the works are a result of out salvation and justification thanks to our faith. Well, this morning I have been led to continued learning and reminders that while we got here through faith and works are a demonstration of that faith, I have to continue to rely on faith and not works.

“⁵Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ⁶just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’?…¹⁰For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’” — Galatians 3:5-6 & 10 (ESV)

Relying on works gets us nowhere except in the arena of the cursed. Man cannot be relied on for salvation, only God. Jesus was cursed by the law so that I would not have to be. He was judged as to His works by the people who deemed those works against them. It did not matter that Jesus was light spreading the good news, the people were attached to firmly to the law they were unable to see Him for who He truly was.

I recently heard someone speaking that “Christian Nationalists” were wrong to believe that the rights of all are gained from God. Somehow this person believed that the rights of all come from man. Do we see now that this person is wrong in their thinking and have fallen to the idea that works are greater than faith? Clearly, as Paul notes above, these who believe this are “under a curse”.

I have gained my salvation and justification through my faith in Christ and the love He has for me. It is clear that I should stick with that which got me here and not waver in my attention to He who provided for me. I am sure that a lot of us have heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it”. That is how I have to be in my relationship with Christ. Relying on faith worked, why try and fix it with works.

What are you doing now that your faith got you to the relationship with Christ? Are you somehow trying to prove and earn more through your works? What if you were to stick with faith since it worked to get you here?

Faith Not Works

I started my study of the word “works” as a natural progression from my study of “mercy”. I keep running into the idea that works do not get me there, they are the result of my salvation and justification. I do not “earn” anything through my works, only demonstrate my salvation and justification. This morning is no different as I again am led to Galatians and the passage titled “Justification by Faith”.

“¹⁵We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; ¹⁶yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” — Galatians 2:15-16 (ESV)

What I have learned in the passage is really nothing new. What I have come to realize this morning is that God is speaking to me. I have been struggling with the lack of acknowledgment in the works that I am doing. I feel as though I am being ignored and not gaining anything in return for those works. I have realized that it is the “man” in me that is seeking this acknowledgment and not the Christian in me. I am looking for the reward here in this world and not focus on my Kingdom purpose to spread the gospel and allowing God to do His work through me.

I will say that it is hard, knowing that I am doing the work and others seem to be doing less and getting more out of it. Whether it is safety, security, promotion, recognition, celebration, or whatever, I have to remember that all of that is of no consequence in the end and my relationship with Christ and the work I am doing for Him is what really matters. I have to know that God is taking care of me to provide for my needs and allow me to be content in it all. I am His to do with what He pleases and not for my own pleasure.

Yes, I would “feel” better in this world if my works were more recognized and appreciated. It would be easier to make it to the next knowing that my works were known to be in the best interest of all. But, it is not my works that are gaining the notoriety, it is my faith in Christ that gains me salvation and justification with Him and that is what really matters.

Lord, give me the strength to know that I have already found favor with You and You have provided for my salvation and justified me through faith in You. I am Yours and You are mine. Give me the wisdom to know that my faith is enough and I must continue my work for You to demonstrate my justification thanks to my faith in You.

What are you relying on to gain salvation and justification? Are you out there working to somehow earn it? What if you placed your faith in God, knowing that it is enough and your works are just your demonstration of the salvation and justification the LORD has provided thanks to that faith?

We are Still Here

The world is in full disarray at the moment. There is continued trouble in the middle east and frankly even in the United States there is a lot of trouble and division where it seems as though the evil one is winning. Social aspects of world are winning out over Christian aspects and there is to the eye, the attempt to make Christians out to be the perpetrators of this discord.

“⁴But what is God’s reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ ⁵So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” — Romans 11:4-5 (ESV)

No matter how bad it seems to be getting or actually is in this world, we are still here. There are still warriors in this world for Christ. There are those of us still fighting. The evil one will not win. I have to remember that the ending has already been written and not matter the current situation, God will prevail. I have to know that where it seems as though all may be lost, there are still those who stand up and fight.

God promised the Israelite’s they would inherit the land, although He did not tell them when. They waited and fought and waited some more, until it was time. I know that I am in the same position here in the world today. I am waiting and fighting and waiting some more, until it is time. I may, as with the Israelite people, not get to experience the promised land in this world, but I will certainly be there for the already written ending to the suffering that is in this world. I will have my chance to be called on as one of the “seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal”. I will fight in the final battle. I am still here.

I am here thanks to the grace of God and not the works that I may have performed to this point. I am doing my part thanks to the grace of God. I am here fighting the fight before me each day. It may seem to me that I am having little to no impact, and that is only due to the sheer size of the war being waged. I am here doing my part in my little corner of the battlefield. When the time is right, God will call me from the corner and into the middle of it all. Until that time, I must continue to fight the battle before me and know that I am still here, ready when called.

What is your status in the war? Are you down and out waiting for someone or some kind of rescue? What if as a follower of Christ, you were to accept that you are still here fighting the battle before you waiting to be called up to the greater war?

Not Works, Mercy

“¹⁵For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ ¹⁶So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” — Romans 9:15-16 (ESV)

God provided salvation out of mercy for me, not due to my works. First, I was saved young in life and at that point, was not out looking for salvation through my works. I was simply living life and was offered salvation and I accepted. So I did not really have the chance to accomplish a lot in the way of works to “earn” salvation. Second, as a sinner, I will never be able to “earn” salvation. I was, am, and always will be a sinner and that makes me not worthy of God’s grace, yet he gives me grace thanks to His mercy for me.

Lately I have been struggling with things not seeming to ever go right. I feel as though I am ignored and no matter the work that I perform, I am not even acknowledged for my existence. Oh, there is the cursory, “thank you” that comes out of politeness, yet there is no recognition that I have actually done something that others did not. In fact, there are those who are fully recognized and celebrated for simply doing what is expected of them and therefore I have gotten to the point of “why keep doing it”.

As I look into it all and work to understand, I have come to the conclusion that due to my continued doing more than what is expected, I have simply raised the bar for what is expected of me. My doing of the work, no matter how much I excel and take things to the next level, it is simply now the new expectation, FOR ME. And if I happen to miss one of those things that are clearly out of my scope, because I had been doing them before, I have somehow failed in the expectation.

“¹⁰And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls” – Romans 9:10-11 (ESV)

I know, this is a lot to read into, but let me wrap up my thoughts. I have to be comfortable knowing that I have done the work. I have to also know that no matter the work, God loves me and provides grace for me. He does not look at my works as the payment for my salvation. He looks at my works as the result of my salvation. I have to do the same. Others not recognizing my worth I have to put behind me. I have to remember that they are not the one I am glorifying, it is God, and He has called me, and provided me salvation and grace through His mercy.

What are you trying to “earn” through your works? Are you looking to your works as somehow the definer of your worth? What if you accepted that God does not look at your works as the payment for your salvation, but rather the result thanks to His mercy?

Into Light or Dark Via Works

I have a choice to either be in the light or in the dark. That choice is driven by my works in this world.

“¹⁹And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” — John 3:19-21 (ESV)

These are the words of Jesus. He came into this world and into the darkness to expose the people to the light that He is. He gave the people the opportunity to come to something greater. He did not stay on the throne and ask the people to come to Him, He went to them where they were.

I like to use imagery to visualize what things will look like, so here goes. I have watched a number of movies where the lead character goes into a dark room or area exploring for whatever it was in the movie. As the character goes into the darkness, the light they are carrying exposes the hoards of beings congregating. As the light shines on the beings, they move, but not toward the light, away from it to avoid the light that exposes them for what they are and what they have done. In the darkness there may be a few that are not like the others and when the light is brought into the darkness they will move toward it to be rescued from the darkness and the beings found there.

Jesus came to be the light in the darkness and as He came those in the darkness either moved away to remain unexposed or they move toward Him to be rescued. I personally choose to be rescued. I have done some things that I am not proud of and it would be easier to move away from the light and stay in the darkness so that I and my actions are not exposed, but what does that get me but more works I am not proud of and I will perpetually remain in the dark. By coming into the light, I may have some challenges getting there, but thanks to Jesus, the reward of salvation and forgiveness and grace are far greater than the shame of remaining in the dark.

I have to allow my works to speak to who I am. I can choose the works to be “carried our in God”, or I can choose to remain in the dark and remain shameful for the works carried our there. I choose to be in the light and carrying out the works that God has for me to bring glory to Him and the gospel to the people.

Where are you spending your time? Are you in the dark, ashamed of the works you have done? What if you were to see and come to the light that is God and accepting the forgiveness for those works and continue forward doing the works of God in the light?

Praise for Her Continuous Works

My wife, Lori, is one the hardest working people I know. She took on the role of my wife and proceeded to ensure that I was taken care of. Then we were blessed with two boys thanks to the trust from God that we would steward them in this world, and she stepped up her role, amazing. Next, she has taken on more responsibility as a school teacher and has continued her works impacting the lives of even more children. And, let’s not forget that she is still my wife ensuring that I am taken care of. All of this, she does with only others in mind.

“¹⁰An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.”

— Proverbs 31:10 (ESV)

Wives and mothers are truly more valuable than anything other than the LORD. I have good ones in both aspects as I started life with a mother who paved the way for Lori. My mother did all she could to steward me and my siblings in this world. And, she worked, what seemed like tirelessly to impact not just us, but others like us in her little corner of the world.

I am blessed to have these two women in my life and know that I would not be the person I am without them. My mother and Lori do the work for God in this world and they do so in full service of Him and those they come in contact with. They are to be praised.

“³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.”

— Proverbs 31:31 (ESV)

It is not the one work that makes them who they are, although it can certainly start there. It is the continuous work for others selfishly that makes mothers and wives those to be praised. They are always looking to make the lives of those around them better and are to be praised for that continuous work.

What works make your mother or wife what they are today? Are they given the proper praise for all that they do? What if we lifted them in praise for the continuous works they do in making lives around them better?

Let the LORD’s Works be Known

“¹Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

²Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!”

“⁵Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,”

— Psalm 105:1-2 & 5 (ESV)

I wrote about the LORD’s works are to be blessed, and now for them to be known. The LORD does for each of us and those works are to be spread to all the people. I have to remember to let them known in any way possible.

I have to shout the on high, sing them as praise to Him aloud and at all times simply utter that which He has done. Notice my words in that it is not necessarily what He as done for me, but more what He has done for all. I have to be vocal to let all know of the wondrous things He has done.

“⁶O offspring of Abraham, his servant,

children of Jacob, his chosen ones!”

— Psalm 105:6 (ESV)

And I am not alone I am just one in the line of Abraham and should be doing my part. But, I also have to encourage others to do the same. All who are in this world should be telling of wondrous works and deeds of the LORD. All have the task of letting His deeds and works known as noted here in Psalm 105.

In telling of His wondrous works and deeds, we are spreading the gospel and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to hear, learn, and accept the salvation that is freely offered and given to any and everyone.

“¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Jesus tells us to go and teach everyone. That starts with drawing the people to you by telling of the wondrous works and deeds of Him. Again I state, not just those works and deeds for me, but all the works and deeds of the LORD.

What is your approach to telling of the wondrous works and deeds of the LORD? Are you focused on only those that directly impact you and the life around you? What if you did as in the Psalm above and be vocal of all He has done and used that to follow the commission from Jesus to spread the gospel to all?