Expressing Christ 5/8
Expressed through Good Works
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)
Clearly there are things we are designed to do. Apparently, these things are to characterize our lives. That’s what walking in them means. Our lives are to be characterized by good works. Works is not a dirty word. Mike Q. Daniel has made an excellent point in saying, “The opposite of grace is not works. The opposite of grace is merit.”
Do you see it?
These works are not born of obligation, duty, or servitude as though by them we could pay back a debt, earn meritorious honor, or escape punishment. Philippians 2:13 helps us clarify this point in pointing out that, “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (NIV)
Titus 2:11–12 helps us further. There we find that “the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (NIV).
Father has not left us helpless. It is His Spirit within us that energizes us by supplying everything we need for life and godliness to the point where Life and Love overflow from us like a living waterfall. But He is the dynamo energizing everything good that comes from us. These good works to which we are called come from His abundant supply. We lack nothing, so we can freely live and freely Love.
God’s Spirit within us brings with Him the fruit characteristic of God. Galatians 5:22-23 lists aspects of that fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is not something we must work to produce. It springs from the dynamo of the living Spirit with whom we are united as one. He is the power source. He is the Vine that supplies energy to the branches.
We do not work to merit anything from God.
We do not work to ensure our inheritance remains intact.
We do not work out of fear of loss or missing out.
We work out of the overflow of Father’s abundant supply.
We work because deep in our hearts we want to do good and godly things.
We work because the love of God overwhelms us with the desire to express love to others.
We work because godly attitudes and actions now characterize our lives just as Father planned that they should.
