Have you ever felt like you were doing the wrong thing? Or perhaps, maybe the right thing, but at the wrong time? Or even worse– the wrong thing at the wrong time? (Well, technically if it’s the wrong thing, it’s always done at the wrong time, right?!)
Beginning in my early twenties, I worked a full-time job. At the time, this is what I was called to do and it made sense for my life. Yet, as I got married and we began having children, I knew my calling was to be a stay-at-home mom. In fact, I knew this was my calling from a very early age, long before I was married with children. But as I was in the thick of my career, and our household spending wasn’t getting to be any less with the addition of children in our family, I didn’t believe leaving my full-time job made sense.
Maybe I didn’t. But God…
God, of course, in His omniscience, knew what was best for my family. He knew He would provide even when I thought I needed to continue to provide. He knew He would be faithful to us, even if I lacked a little trust.
Sister, we serve a God who has prepared good works for us that we should walk in them. The beauty is that there are some good works we may know and be aware of for a long time, and others He reveals to us as life goes on. Nevertheless, our job is to be sensitive to the Lord’s promptings in our life and obedient to His calling.
Let’s dive into 7 truths about good works, from a biblical perspective.
#1: Good works are not a means to salvation.
Before we dive into some observations about what good works are, let’s first talk about what good works are not. Specifically, the one main thing they are not– a means to salvation.
Rather, good works are a means by which we show the world we are saved– we are His. It is how we carry out the love of God in the world. Through our good works, we give others snippets of His grace, character, and righteousness.
Our salvation is a free gift– there’s no barter and trade, no form of payment on our end, and nothing we can do to earn it.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ”
Free things aren’t earned, right? They are freely given out of love. This is in fact what the Lord has done. In His great love for us, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He paid; not us.
Our works pay nothing towards our salvation; it’s not like we’re racking up reward points every time we do something for the Kingdom! Sister, our good works are simply the way we carry out the Lord’s will for our lives; and, when we do them with an obedient and submitted heart, our good works bring Him glory.
Now that we’ve gotten that super important detail out of the way, let’s look at a few more things the Bible says about good works.
#2: We are His good work.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s workmanship. Workmanship can be defined as the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making. Something created poorly would be said to be created out of poor workmanship. However, knowing Who our God is, that everything He created is good, and the fact that He intricately knitted us together in our mothers’ wombs– we can rest assured that His workmanship doesn’t contain an ounce of “bad.” Therefore, know you are perfectly and wonderfully made, a good work– a unique design by Him.
#3: He does good work in us.
Since we are His creation, His good work, it should be no surprise that His good work within us didn’t cease the day we were born. As the One who holds all things together, He continues to not only sustain us but to work in us in order that we would desire same the things He does, as well as live unto Him, for His glory (Philippians 2:13). Through Christ in our lives, He continues to work in us and will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:16).
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. ”
Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world that has been corrupted by sin. But God in His goodness works in us to mold us to be more like Christ, calling us to put off the old, corrupt ways manifest in things like anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language (Colossians 3:8-11). And through that good work in us, He helps us to put on things like tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and the ability to bear with one another, and forgive one another (Colossians 3:12-14).
He chips away at us, with the Spirit as our guide, leading us to walk in the Spirit and exhibit His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). You see, sister, these are lifelong things that require obedience and diligence on our part, but we don’t do it alone. Through His ongoing good work in us, we are able to be more like Him.
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#4: Our good works were prepared beforehand.
Because God knit us together in our mother’s womb and He knows all of our days (Psalm 139:13-16), He knows us.
Ephesians 2:10, after telling us that we are His workmanship, goes on to say that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
He has plans for us and has a will for our lives. The things He desires for us to do in our lifetime were known to Him and prepared for us long ago. These are beautiful things that fit into His grand plans and purposes; things that bring value to others and glory to Him.
Our good works are important to Him because we are important to Him.
Therefore, we must be mindful that the good works we are doing are actually the good works that the Lord planned for us! There are many good things we can do in this life, but if they are of our own account, based on our desires, and not the Lord’s– we’re striving in vain.
So, how do we know the good works He’s prepared for us?
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#5: We must prepare our hearts in order to carry out our good works.
Knowing the good works God has prepared for us begins with us humbly bowing before Him with a heart of submission; an attitude that says, “You are God and I am not.” From here, as we allow the Spirit to convict us, we are able to see ourselves for who we are and turn from the things that don’t line up with the Lord.
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Idols and sin in our lives will impede us from fully communing with the Lord; and, when we are disconnected from the Lord, His will for our lives is foggy– perhaps even unknown. When we aren’t sure of His will, how can we know the good works He wants us to do?
Sister, let’s purpose to flee from the things that trip us up and ensnare us, and instead pursue Him and pursue righteousness. This is where His truth lies– and where His will for us becomes clear.
#6: The Lord equips us for our good works.
Have you ever been a little scared or hesitant to do something you know the Lord was calling you to do? A handful of years ago, my husband and I were called into youth ministry at our church. In the beginning, I’ll admit– I didn’t have much of a desire to be a part of this ministry. Our own kids were very young, and the last time I’d spoken at length with a teenager was when I was a teenager!
I felt out of place, ill-equipped, and unsure of how to relate. Yet, I believed God was calling me to play a role in this ministry; so, I made the decision to trust the Lord despite my feelings.
In that trust, I found that I didn’t have to strive to do this good work. Little by little, His equipping came in bite-sized pieces, as I needed it. As I sought Him and allowed Him to lead me, He worked in me to give me a heart for this age group, and a love for each of the teens we ministered to. He gave me words to speak to relate to them and get to know them. He provided all I needed to get started in these unchartered waters in my life, and He provides today as we continue to lead the ministry.
When we seek God and become attuned to His will for our lives, He fills us with spiritual wisdom and understanding. Take a look:
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
”
This is literally my personal experience in serving our youth group! His spiritual wisdom and understanding, through His counsel and His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) in turn, allow us to carry out our good works in a way that is pleasing to Him, which is pleasing to Him (big picture). This is how we “walk worthy.”
#7: Others are to see our good works.
Sister, there is beauty in the good works He has prepared for us. As we take part in them, following His lead to walk them out in a way that is pleasing to Him, they shine forth for all to see. And rightfully so, as He indeed calls us to be a light in this dark world, shining in a way that people may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
As women, 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says that we should adorn ourselves with good works– not being concerned with our outward appearance as a means of beauty. Our godliness comes from who we are in Him and the way we exude His righteousness, not by our looks.
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Yet, a caution for us all: Although our good works should be evident for others to see, we should not do them to bring eyes to ourselves. As Matthew 5:16 says, our good works are a way for others to see the magnificence of God so they can glorify Him.
bible verses
Bible verses about good works.
bible verses about good works
Let me share with you a few Bible verses about good works. May they encourage you and remind you that as long as you are stepping into that which you are called– the things that have been prepared by God for you– you will have His peace.
Galatians 6:9 NASB
Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NASB
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
Philippians 2:13 NASB
For it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
Hebrews 13:20-21 NASB
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
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