Why Do We Do Good Works?

    Sometimes it may feel that you are throwing your pearls in the pig pen when you do good works for less than appreciative people, but it is then that you must remember for whom we do these good works. We do them to show our faith, our love, and our appreciation to God for His faithfulness, love, and blessings!

"And whatever you do, do it heartily,

as to the Lord and not to men."

(Colossians 3:23 NKJV) 

    We do good works, not for glory and praise (Matthew 6:1-4) but to reflect God's light into the world. We, through our kindnesses and mercies, show people God, who may not have seen Him any other way. Good works can open doors and open hearts. God's light can shine in places that need His light, simply because of our kindness and care, and in turn He will be glorified!

    We do good works because we have abundance from God. He has blessed us with so many provisions to enable us to share and care for others (2 Corinthians 9:8)

    Consider 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any troubles, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted."

God ALWAYS exemplifies the good He wants us to do in the world!

Read this verse again and fill in the blank with "love/loved":

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all _______, who ________ us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to _______ those who are in any troubles, with the _______ with which we ourselves are _________.

Read again using "blessings/bless/blessed"
Read again using "help/helped"
Read again using "encouragement/encouraged"

    Do you get the picture?

    God exemplifies it, so we know what to do and how to do it, and He supplies what we need to accomplish it, so we have no excuse not to do it!

    Doing good works should be who you are. A Christian should be different from the world. Their mind should be constantly renewed in their purpose of proving to the world "what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).

• You have received love from God --> love others (1 John 4:11) 
• You have received comfort from God --> comfort others (2 Corinthians 9:8)
• You have received blessings from God --> be a blessing to others (Hebrews 13:16) 
• You have been upheld by God --> uphold others (Isaiah 41:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• You have been forgiven by God --> forgive others (Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:13)

    What else can you add to this list?

    Don't give up on doing good! When we do good, we reflect God's light in to the world, that He may be glorified! Renew your mind daily by remembering from whom all blessings come and determine to show the world that God has provided a better way!

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap 
if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, 
especially to those who of the household of faith." 
(Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

New Theme: Good Works

    Did you know that we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works"? God prepared them, so "we should walk in them" (Ephesians 5:10)!

    What are these good works that God has prepared?

    Let's look at some verses that outline some good works that we, as women, should walk in:

"The older women likewise*, that they be reverent 

in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, 

teachers of good things - that they admonish the 

young women to love their husbands, to love their 

children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, 

obedient to their own husbands, that the word of 

God may not be blasphemed." 

(Titus 3:3-5 NKJV)

*"likewise": indicates that the things listed before (in verse 2) also apply to the older women: be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

    Applying all of these to who we are and what we do will bring glory to God and that is what good works are supposed to result in.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

so that they may see your good works and 

give glory to your Father who is in heaven." 

(Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

    In Ephesians 2:9, we read that salvation is a gift from God, it is "not of works, lest anyone should boast." All of our efforts in doing good are for one purpose only - to bring glory to God! That through them we may be "to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:6,12,14).

    When you shine your light before others, through good works and kindnesses, you are showing God's more perfect way to others! (Romans 12:1) Consider James 2:14-17 where it states that if a brother is in need and we simply say to him, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," and we have done nothing to warm or fill him then our faith, without these works, is dead. God wants us to "not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16)

    We all have differing abilities. We must use our abilities to do what WE are able to do! Please read Romans 12:3-8. Pray for opportunities to use your abilities and your abundance to benefit others and bring glory to God.

    Encourage the young wife. Embrace the young mother. Cheer on your sister. Fortify your husband. If you can create things useful to others, do so to fill the need! If you can help someone monetarily to help them through a hard time or help them achieve a goal (university, college, upgrading their skills), then do it happily!

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, 

that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, 

may have an abundance for every good work." 

(2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV)

    God provides so that we can share - we have no excuse and every reason to obey!

    Magnify God today by eagerly walking in the good works He has prepared for us to walk in! Let your behaviour and your kindness be to the praise of HIS GLORY!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Nature is Consistent, Are We?

     As we conclude our thoughts on the "Nature" theme let's consider Genesis 8:22. In the context of this verse Noah has offered sacrifice to the LORD and God, having received the sweet aroma, declares that He will never again destroy the earth with a flood, God also makes this declaration:

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, 

cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, 

shall not cease.” (NKJV)

    Night follows day, spring follows winter... we come to know these 'patterns' and we expect them. We can count on them because of their constancy. Constancy is a quality of being dependable. A quality of being enduring and unchanging. We, as Christians, should be an example of constancy in our faith and in our walk. 

    Can you be counted on for certain behaviours? Are those behaviours good or are they bad?

    Consider these instructions today:

"...be an example to the believers in word, 

in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 
(1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV)

"...in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, 

in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 

sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one 

who is an opponent may be ashamed, 
having nothing evil to say of you." 
(Titus 2:7-8 NKJV)

    Both of these instructions were included in letters written to young preachers, and yes, preachers must be examples to the church, but they are also members, just like you and me. We all need to exemplify these instructions; there are people watching us all the time, some known to us, some not. We need constancy and consistency in our example!

    Just as we count on the sunshine to follow the rain and the day to follow the night, let us be people whom others can count on to be lights in this world of darkness!

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see 
your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 
(Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Nature Praises God - So Should We!

    Good morning! I hope you're having good days! As we continue in our Nature theme, let's consider how all creation praises the LORD and gives Him all the glory: 

Psalm 148

PRAISE the LORD!

Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him all you stars of light!

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,

And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

For He commanded and they were created.

He also established them forever and ever;

He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,

You great sea creatures and all the depths;

Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl;

Kings of earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

For His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above the earth and heaven.

He has exalted the strength of His people,

The praise of all His saints - Of the children of Israel,

A people near to Him.

Praise the LORD!
(New King James version)

    This psalm covers everything in the heavenly realm and in the earthly realm! "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 150:6)

    Holman Bible Dictionary defines 'praise': 

"Praise comes from a Latin word meaning “value” or “price.” Thus, to give praise to God is to proclaim His merit or worth. Many terms are used to express this in the Bible, including “glory,” “blessing,” “thanksgiving,” and “hallelujah,” the last named being a transliteration of the Hebrew for “Praise the Lord.”

    When we are thankful to God, we are giving Him praise. We are acknowledging His blessings, His majesty, and His dominion.

    We are commanded through the New Testament to be thankful, to give thanks always (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God has blessed us with a new life through His Son, we are to proclaim, in sincere thankfulness and true appreciation, the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)! When we open our eyes to God, His word, and the wonders of His creation our hearts should overflow with reasons to praise God, giving our lips a ready resource for declaring God's goodness to others (Acts 4:20)! 

"I will bless the LORD at all times; 

His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; 

the humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, 

let us exalt His name together."
(Psalm 34:1-3 NKJV)

    Where can you begin? Read the whole of Ephesians 1 and 2 and meditate on the blessings found only in Christ! Take time to read Philippians to learn how to be thankful and full of praise in every circumstance. Step outside (or look out the window) and meditate on the plants, the trees, the animals that God created. Look at your own self, your senses, and your abilities; consider all the time God has blessed you with so far. Show true appreciation by thanking Him for all these things and by using your time, your words, and abilities to His glory!  

Learn to be thankful. Value the blessings God gives you.

Fill yourself up with gratitude for God and praise Him!

Praise the LORD! 

You can do it! So can I!!