Works: November 24, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24

WORKS

Defined by Webster:
Effort put forth; labor; toil. Be employed; perform labor.

GODS WORD

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14

“For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

“As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

Many people we talk to really believe that their “GOOD WORKS” will get them into heaven to spend an eternity with God. Most of these people are good people and live a clean life. They are the kind of “neighbors” you would love to have living next door to you. We remember several conversations we had with a friend who was very generous with his time and talent with our ministry. When we talked to him about his relationship with Jesus he always talked about his good works and told us not to be concerned about him because he would see us in heaven.

Some people find the two verses that we have listed above from Ephesians and James confusing. They ask: Is salvation simply by grace through faith alone or do we have to work for it? Paul wants us to understand that there is nothing we can do to merit or earn our salvation. Keeping all the laws in the Bible will not earn us salvation, it is only by the grace of God through faith that we can be saved. Paul in Ephesians talks about salvation through faith and James in James says faith without deeds (WORKS) is dead. They do not contradict each other, actually they supplement one another. James would never argue against Paul’s assertion that salvation is by faith but James presupposes that we understand these doctrines that are so clearly stated in Paul’s letters. James goes a step further by saying that a commitment to Christ is expressed through our actions.

WORKS IS AN EVIDENCE OF YOUR FAITH!

Martin Luther puts it this way: A man is justified (declared righteous before God) by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Genuine faith will produce good deeds, but only faith in Christ saves.

God is expecting us as believers to work hard until His return. Some have asked us the big question: When are you going to retire? Our answer is very clear and simple --- NEVER. God has put each one of us on this earth for a purpose. When we consider the great price God and His Son Jesus paid for our salvation, we cannot sit back and retire. We are committed for a life time to work for Him. We firmly believe that God will take us to be with Him when we have completed “the works” that God has for us on this earth. Our prayer today is that you will join us by doing the “works” that God has for you.

REMEMBER OUR MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:

“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
We encourage you to memorize this verse by this Friday.

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Help us as a family to share our faith with those we touch daily so they can know You as their Savior. Help us to also “WORK” daily to do Your will, so that our actions will show others the evidence of our faith in You.