Are your good works helping to lead others to Christ? How much light is shining from the good works you are performing? The Lord expects me, now that I am saved, to live a good life filled with good works for a good cause. He not only saved me for that purpose; He has also equipped me to perform good works. If there is any shortage of good works in my life, it has nothing to do with any failure on God’s part.
One of the defining marks of a believer is the outflow of good works from a good life. Why did God save me in the first place? What was His purpose? Ephesians 2:10 is crystal clear on His purpose for saving me:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for (the purpose of doing) good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
The Lord expects our days to be full of good works; and, they will be if we walk in the good path He prepared beforehand for us. Good works should be the norm not the exception in my life. Read the Gospels and determine if good works were the norm for Jesus or the exception? The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
It is sad if our witness for Christ, individually and corporately, consists primarily of good words and rarely of good works. 
Caleb whispers to Juliana: “Wow! Have you ever seen anyone like Bethany before? She is so kind and so considerate and so thoughtful and so polite and so helpful and so generous and so, well…whatever!! She’s amazing. She always sees something to do and some way to help out. She’s incredibly unselfish.”
“The other day,” Juliana responded, “someone told me that Bethany is a saved person. I think that means she goes to church a lot; but whatever it is she has, I’m impressed. I would love to get the same thing. I think she is the most contented – well, the happiest person I have ever met. Someday I’m going to ask her what makes her so different from the rest of us.”
When Paul wrote Timothy about Christian widows, he said something like this in 1Timothy 5:9-10:
“Look at the woman’s track record since she became a Christian. Has she exhibited Christ-like qualities that are expected of every believer? Was she faithful in her marriage? Is she well known for all her good works? Did she care for children and orphans – those who were vulnerable, fragile and in need of support? Has she always been hospitable and helpful to strangers? Has she shown care for fellow-believers? Did she wash their dusty old feet? Did she help those who were in any kind of trouble? In other words: did she diligently pursue every good work? Has she lived for herself or for others? Did she please herself or her Lord?”
What you have just read is the type of behaviour the Lord also expects of me – not just widows! How does my life measure up? Ask the Lord to make you more aware of the needs around you and to have the desire and courage to help out wherever you can. Why? To show the kindness, compassion, and generosity of Christ.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
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