The Blessings of God
It’s easier to train with a partner. If you could use some back-up, our mentors are ready.
“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” (James 2: 14, NLT)
Please read James 2:14-26. I read an amazing quote the other day, and I would like to share it with you in regards to this scripture. “God blesses us because we respond to Him, not as a response to our good works.”
I posted this scripture today, because I see too often a trend that is misunderstood. Somehow, new believers have come under the impression that they must start doing good works, and that this will please God. That God will know they are not the same sinner they were before by their good works now.
As a body of Christ, I feel we have not really taught this very well. All to often we are happy to see an increase of volunteers without fully seeing where their hearts may be. All to often our new volunteers get burnt out or fall away, because they misunderstood how and why we do good works.
James writes here, “what good is faith without action?” This is a true, as true gets. Yet, we do not prove our faith by our actions. Our faith is in our belief, our surrendering of ourselves to Jesus. There is no proof, other than what God sees in our hearts. Our good deeds do not make us more faithful; our faith leads us into action.
Faith and true belief must be established first. If it is not, we are working from our flesh to perform these good works, we are doing it without God. We are doing it to show others around us and to show God we can change…and folks, this is just not the way it is. We can’t change on our own. We can only change by the blood Jesus has shed for us, it is Him inside of us, that is leading us to change. Doing good works out of your faith in Christ is not a New Year’s resolution (something we can do on our own will power), it is a way of life.
Once we are in full faith, and belief, and trust in God, He will guide us towards the good works He would like us to do. I often feel a pull, or a tug, or even sometimes a push from His Holy Spirit in me, to do a good work. This is the response to God, and by which we as well as others around us are blessed by God.
Father, I pray today that we are working in response to You Lord. I pray that we are not working from our own strength or our own will, but that we are working as a result of You stirring in us a desire to do something. I pray that we are working by the power of Your Holy Spirit in us, that it is You doing the work, and us being a vessel of Your love. Help us as a body of Christ, Lord, to share this with other brothers and sisters. Let us not be so quick to accept new help without understanding where their hearts are. Let us take time to teach Your living word, so others may be strengthened by it, and it become alive in their lives as well as ours. We ask all of this in the mighty name Jesus, Amen
Question: Have you been living a works-based or faith-based life of salvation?
Rev. Forster, So much enjoyed the truth within this wonderful devotional you have written! It has helped and blessed me greatly as I continue to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in doing the “good works God” wants me to be doing and not what others want me to be “doing for them”. The Blessing of God come to us when we are about the business He has prepared and called us to. I know for me I LOVE to give 110% of my heart and full attention to every task/mission God assigns for me to accomplish verses being to busy with a whole lote of stuff others want me to do. Saying, “No” to others and not getting overly committed is not easy BUT when you find the inner power to do such…WOW! God takes us to a whole new level of service that He had appointed for us to do without being led around in all differant directions by others. I love the works that He has called me to and the power that is in my hands when doing such is wihtout doubt the true working of His Spirit within me…all the glory, honor, and praise go to HIm…thanks again Rev. Foster…hope to receive more devotionals written by you through the power of HIs Spirit!
Yes, Praise God, for setting us straight. It is all too “human nature” to want to please others and God; when all God wants, is for us to…Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. When we love and surrender our lives to Him, Praise Jesus, for what He does in and through us.
Hedy, I would have no problem with you sharing this…To God be all the Glory! I thank you for sharing your testimony. I myself, use to volunteer, and do good works for approval before I fully surrendered my life to Christ. When God put it on my heart to write this devotion, I definitely spoke from personal experience. Thank you again for sharing how Awesome our God is, and what He has done in your life, and yes please share this, and don’t be afraid to talk to others about it. God Bless Hedy!
Rev. Daniel Foster,would you mine if I printed this devotion off? The reason I ask is because I was the very one who was living a works-based life of salvation,by seeking approval from Christians*the ones I thought knew it all! but were struggling just like me* instead of letting God direct. I doubt that I was even a Christian then, or was I only seeking approval of others? I did a lot of volunteering,but now I know why it never worked out! I would like to show this to others & remind myself of your wise words.
I use to feel kind of bad for Cain*not the murder part* & the prodigal son`s brother.I guess in my earthly- mind the guys seemed to try so hard to please their father….like I tried so hard to please mine…which never worked!
It`s like you wrote”faith & true belief has to be established first …or we`re working in the flesh…& without God.It has taken awhile but now I see that this is the only way He can guide me.
There are times when I do feel a pull or a tug or sometimes the push*better pay attention* of the Holy Spirit. Working with God makes my life a whole lot easier & less stressful then trying it my way….which I`m learning always ends up a hot mess!..now each morning I`m a little more excited about what the day will bring. Knowing that no matter what the day brings my Heavenly Father is right there beside me,giving me the courage to take that next step! …& when I stumble He`s right there to pick me up,dusts me off,then we continue my journey called life!
I have not had an easy life & it was very hard to believe that *this God* could love someone like me,but I`m glad He does & I`d be a real nut-case to walk away from Him & what He`s offered me. What He did by sending His only *sinless* Son to the cross to pay for my sins,so I can have FREEDOM! with no catch!
So when it comes to *the work department* I`m blessed to have some amazing people in my life now,ones whom I can call on when I`m not sure what to do or think. They let me know that it`s OK. cause I`m a work in progress.
Love this! Too many people feel justified in living unrighteously because of the ‘good work’ they do. They don’t spend any time examining where their faith is until something bad happens. Have to check myself often as well to make sure all I do is steeped in faith. Praise Him!