Every Sunday should be a Sunday of thanksgiving and praise.  But at Sunset Park Baptist we have set aside the last Sunday of each month which has five Sundays as a day for gratitude.  It is a special day to praise Jesus for His faithful lovingkindness.  It is a day to meditate on His patient goodness and grace.  It is a day to worship the Lord with a special offering of gratitude.  Not only are we to reflect Jesus’ goodness in our worship, but also in everyday life.  We are to be about emulating His goodness to other people.  Good works are to be a natural part of a believer’s life and are an act of love for Jesus and others.

Acts 9:36 “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.”

Good works are not only an imitation of God’s awesome love, but it is an expression of our godliness in Christ.

1 Timothy 2:10 “but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”     

           

Good works are not something we can hide from everyone.  They involve other people and are therefore public acts of kindness.  They are out there for all to observe.

1 Timothy 5:25 “So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”

They are viewed by the world…..

Matthew 5:16 “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.”

….and the Body of Christ, the church of the living God.

1 Timothy 5:10 “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”  

Good works are an act of our love and Christlikeness.  It is the natural outpouring of the Lord’s love through a believer’s life.  As we humbly submit to the Holy Spirit, His presence is increasingly evident in our lives exhibiting itself through love, kindness, goodness, patience, gentleness, faithfulness.  His holy character shines forth from our daily lives.  This is who we are as Christians.  This is the result of our faith in Jesus’ life and death which provides forgiveness for our sin and saving grace from the wrath of God toward our sin.  Jesus did not only save us to go to heaven, but He saved us with the expectancy that we would live a life busy doing good for others.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

As believers we need to realize and acknowledge this calling on our lives and to commit each day to this holy work of good.

Titus 3:14 “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”

We are admonished in scripture to not become weary of doing good.  Each day we need to depend on the Holy Spirit’s presence and power to be encouraged to passionately and cheerfully do good for others.

Titus 2:14 “who 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.”

A believer’s love for Jesus motivates them to the fulfillment of these good works.  Since our love for Jesus and others is a ‘heart thing’ we must depend on the Holy Spirit.  We must humble ourselves before the Spirit of Jesus and let Him stir up our love and goodness.

Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”           

We were not created by the Word of Jesus, nor saved by the blood of Jesus to do nothing.  Scripture plainly states that we were put here by God and redeemed by faith in Jesus for the purpose of doing good on behalf of others.  As we age, we may not be able to do what we once were able to do, but we have good works to perform as long as Jesus leaves us here on earth.  As lights to a lost and dark world let us determine to burn in our inner person with a passion to love and do good for those, we cross paths within this life.

For Jesus’ Kingdom,

Bro. Hugh Folds

Romans 14:17