Good Works are Coming, Be Ready

I never know when I am going to have the opportunity to witness to and influence someone. I may not even know in the moment or unless they indicate that to me later. Recently someone reached out to me, out of the blue, asking for my thoughts on a particular subject, I provided my thoughts and then she told me she appreciated the learning I had provided her. I asked what it was and she proceeded to tell me. Now it is something that I indicate all the time and have not been told of the impact it has on others until this time. I was taken aback in the moment as I was finally recognized for the impact even as I did not even know of the impact.

All of the above is to again say that we really do not know when we are going to have the opportunity to impact another, and sometimes the work we do that seems to go unnoticed actually has a profound impact. I have to be ready for those moments and stay with the works for Christ, round the clock.

“¹Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,” — Titus 3:1 (ESV)

Paul, speaking to Titus, indicates that we are to be at the ready at all times. The good works that are presented to us may come on quickly and if we are not ready, we may miss that which God has planned for us to complete. I have accepted Christ and been justified, now is the time for me to do the work and that will require for me to be seeking it out and ready for when it is presented.

I have to prepare. I know, if I don’t know what the work is, how can I prepare? I have to stick to the basics and that is to be aware and be the example of Christ at every turn. I have to live out the fruit of the Spirit in all that I do and that is where my preparation lies.

“²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” — Galatians 5:22-26 (ESV)

Paul again indicates to be ready with the fruit of the Spirit. In doing so, we are able to “keep in step with the Spirit” and align ourselves with the work that God has for us. We will be ready to take on that which is presented and do so more as Christ would and be the example for others to see.

What is your approach to what is to come? Are you just working from moment to moment and waiting for the next thing to drop? What if you were to prepare, knowing the next work will be coming soon and when it does, you are ready to do the work of/for Christ?

Be the Example

Ever notice that in society, the prevailing theme is to be seen. And think about that which is thought to be of importance: silly dances, hacks to life, sensationalism, and the like. What has the world come to that all of that is what is important in the lives of people.

“⁷Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” — Titus 2:7-8 (ESV)

Now that is what I am talking about. Paul points out to Titus that is “good works” and “integrity, dignity, and sound speech” we should be concerning ourselves with. And, it is not “to be seen”, but rather to be the example of what right is. It is this example that sets us apart from the world and not the ability to be seen as the silly dancer or hack or somehow more sensational. I have to remember that the LORD has tasked me with bringing the gospel to the world and doing so as His example.

“¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” — Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

God has prepared me to complete the tasks He has for me, and it is my duty to follow through with that duty and do so as His example. He has provided for me the framework and the direction and the skills, and has instructed me to just do the work. I am to follow His lead and be an example to others, through my actions and not through the attention grabbing antics of the world. I am to be “zealous for good works”, not seeking for the world to know me, but they will know of my works and of God.

What are you seeking in this world? Are you looking to be seen as the silly dancer, life hacker, or sensationalist? What if you focused on being a zealot for good works as an example of Christ and simply spread the gospel as God has instructed and allowed the glory to be received by Him?

Works Now, Grace Before I Began

This morning I am looking at another realization as I study “works”. Grace was granted by God well before I began. Yes, I know, I have looked at that grace comes before works as I am not able to “earn” my way to salvation from works, the works are a demonstration of my salvation given by God through grace and my faith in Him. But His grace predates my existence here in this world.

“⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” — 2 Timothy 1:8-9 (ESV)

Paul has written to Timothy 2000 years ago and he indicates that God provided grace “before the ages began”. I came along in the now, relatively, and that puts me even further out from when grace was given. Therefore grace did come well before I began and my works are only a result of that grace.

The thing that I have learned, or was reminded and realized is that God’s grace was eternal and will be eternal. He gave it long ago for those who would receive and will continue to give to those who did receive and have yet to receive. It is faith in His grace where I have to remember to reside and do the works to demonstrate that faith in His grace.

Now that I have learned or reminded and realized of God’s grace well before I began, it is important that I remember it as I progress forward in this world and lean on His grace for all of my actions and works. I have to guard against being influenced by the world and falling into the trap of trying to “earn” my way. I have to trust Him and follow His direction.

“¹³Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” — 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV)

Where are you leaning as you move forward? Are you leaning on the now with the works that you are doing and trying to earn your way? What if you realized that you have already received the grace that was given you even “before the ages began”?

Be Rich in Good Works

“¹⁷As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” — 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV)

There is nothing wrong with being rich. The thing is where are you placing your trust and worth, in the monetary things of this world or in the riches to be gained in heaven. There are plenty of people in this world who are monetarily rich and no one knows because they are not out there in the world pronouncing their riches. They are the ones out there doing the work of Christ and using their monetary wealth to enrich others through their work. These people are doing good and are rich in good works as Paul indicates in the above verses.

Yes, there are those who are in it for themselves and are building up wealth in this world and fully self absorbed in it all. These are the ones out there pronouncing their riches for the world to see and throwing around a few things in full view of the media to be seen as somehow the picture of generous and caring, when in reality the percentage of themselves and their wealth being spread is almost indiscriminate compared to others. These are the rich Paul warns about in the above verses.

I have to look at myself and wonder where I fall in this riches conversation. I am not “rich” by monetary standards, but do feel rich in the fear of the LORD and with my family and that which is here in my immediate world. I have a church where I feel compelled to serve, even in what may seem like a role that gets little to no notoriety, breaking down the building to which we worship. Yet, I do not look to this role as minuscule, it is a vital part of the church and my service to the LORD. I may not have all the riches as one would think, yet I am rich in the LORD.

I have to continue to rely on God and the riches He provides. And “do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share”. I may not have the financial ability to share greatly, but I do have time and effort that I can share and I have to be generous. It is not the substance of the gifts, but the attitude of the gift that means something and I have to remember that I am rich, at least rich in good works.

What do you provide for others as you walk through this world? Are you looking to be the one that provides monetarily and struggle with the amount you have and or can/will give? What if you realized that God provides for you to be rich and you can share your riches of good works with the world?

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?