Among all of the things we all do, everyone does a good thing here and there, obviously some more than others, even the worst of people do something good from time to time, and i suppose it also depends on how you define “good”. But i suppose when we speak of scripture and take into consideration what God calls “good works”, the longer i look at it the more obvious it is that the Lord considers there to be a wide difference between doing good things and having good works.
Is it possible that the difference is a matter of the heart and not the deed which was done….that the difference isn’t in the action but from what foundation the action was performed?
As the day is drawing to a close, where are you on your “at rest” meter? The Lord rested after seven days of creation and meant for us to have times of rest also. If we are always in production mode, always under the weight of “getting stuff done” we will burn out, possibly even imploding. It seems so many are under the constant weight of taking their children here and there – being driven by the needs of those around them who don’t seem too concerned for anyone else’s welfare; or maybe there’s pressure at work to accomplish more than what we’ve signed on for – like an overbearing boss who micromanages everyone and everything, we must endure their poor management style because we need that job really bad, so we endure for the sake of a paycheck. We need rest or we will be wounded. Remember, if the devil can’t prevent your going forward, he’ll get behind you, put his foot on your back, and shove you faster than you can go. He thinks it’s funny to see you fall, laughing at your pinwheeling arms and legs while falling forward to skin your hands and knees. i think it’s good to know when to say yes, but also equally important how and when to say no also. You get my drift?
This evening’s topic is “Illustrated Righteousness”, or “Good works”, what does the Lord mean when He uses the word “works”, and is there a difference between doing good things, and maintaining good works? Come go with me this evening, put your ears on, and i’ll return after a short, but pleasant break.
God and the Bible are our reference, first, last and always. The Lord alone is our standard, and any other standard is only a degraded version of the truth. God points us to the Bible and the Bible points us to God. Christ and the Bible are our reference for morals, principles, and ethics, together they are our guide on how to think and conduct ourselves in conversation and the act of living…SO….in light of that, by the law of first mention, the first time the Lord mentions “labors” or just “work” is in Genesis2:2, where He uses “work” and “rest” in the same sentence. From that simple example, i take it that if we speak of our “works in Christ,” we must also discuss our “rest in Christ.” If we work we must rest, and when we rest, the intent is to take a time of repose, to gather ourselves in devotion to the Lord, replenishing our stores in preparation to surge forward again in the Name of Jesus.
What is your idea of what the Lord means when He says something is “good”? When He used the word “good” in Gen1:4, saying, “And God saw the light, that it was good,” i see it as an incredible word. It can be a noun, a verb, an adjective, masculine or feminine, single or plural. Just amazing! Upon dissecting the word, to the letters, God’s idea of “good” is like “Favor from the margins”…now i really like that – “favor from the margins”, from edge to edge, running down, and overflowing. In reference to all His works, His plans accomplished and yet to be, Christ and the resurrection, “favor from the margins” means, “In our link to God, the cross of Christ, there is hidden Shalom, like a fountain in the eye of the landscape of all that’s in the House of the Almighty.” Within the word “good”, there is an arm and hand which sew seeds, growing the Kingdom of God, so we all can watch and see it grow and know that the Lord is God. Friends, i think that is a definition worthy of serious consideration, so here it is again…. through the cross of Jesus, God’s goodness is centerpiece in the landscape of Heaven, by which we sow seeds of righteousness, growing he Kingdom of Heaven.
So much of our definition of good is so, SO very subjective, meaning it is our version of it all. Often we lower God’s standard to be something we find more, how should i say, “more palatable”, and easier to perform, and then we use our idea of “good” as a standard to measure ourselves by. Eventually, we decide, according to our own twisted standard of “goodness”, that we are good people, and it’s not right.
Good works is “illustrated righteousness”, it is the planting of the seeds of the Kingdom of God.
Steve Hill of Steve Hill Ministries wrote: “Many Christians are heavy and cast down, principally because they are idle and selfish. They often feel that the active, benevolent spirit of watching for opportunities to do essential service to our fellow-creatures is no more than menial. What good does it afford to merely believe in doctrines which are then put to no good purpose? Usefulness is the very excellency of life. No man, in the real church of Christ, lives unto himself. Every true Christian is a tree of righteousness, whose fruits are good and profitable unto men. He is glad to help and to comfort others. He is diligent and industrious. He speaks to edification; dwells in peace, gentleness and love. He reproves what is wrong by an excellent example, and recommends, by his own practice, what is pleasing to God. Our good works express mercy, and are thus expected to be performed by believers insofar as they are able, in accordance with Matthew 5:7.” Do you see the heart posture in Mr. Hill’s words? He said, “Reproving what is wrong by being an excellent example, and recommends, by his own practice, what is pleasing to God.” Our expression of mercy is one of God’s key attributes – mercy is considered as foundational “good works” and sets an example by our outward practice. The Lord has defined what is good, and His requirement of each of us is to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God?
Around 1607, a painter named, Caravaggio, did an extraordinary painting depicting the seven works of mercy which are a set of compassionate acts concerning the material welfare of others. The painting portrays feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, burying the dead, giving shelter to travelers, comforting the sick, and freeing the imprisoned. Those works of mercy are termed by the Lord as “good works”. They plant seeds of peace and impart the vision of clear water flowing from the eye of the landscape of the Heart of God.
1 Peter 2:12, “..but to live such good lives among the pagans that even though they now speak against you as evildoers, they will, as a result of seeing your good actions, give glory to God on the Day of his coming.” What that means is that the works of mercy, the good works God motivates us to do, are works which are observable, they are righteousness illustrated so everyone can watch and see, that they would come to the knowledge that the Lord is God. Fathers, don’t just tell your children how they should be, God calls you to BE the man who is an example of how they should be. You want them to be different, you be different. Don’t just tell them about justice, kindness, and honesty, live your life according to the standard of the Lord and let them see you demonstrating how they should live their lives.
i am compelled to ask myself, “do i have works of mercy in my life?”. We all should take some personal inventory after looking at Caravaggio’s work. Is the righteousness the Lord says is within me visible, or am i busy wearing a disguise so i fit in with the rest of the world? And you? Where do you fit in this?
i want to paint with words something visible, something seen with our internal eyes when i speak of “good” and “goodness” with the end point being a better understanding of “good works”, or “righteousness illustrated”.
John 10:32, while being persecuted by the Pharisee’s Jesus answered them saying, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father…” He demonstrated good works, and He didn’t just talk about what He might do if He had time, or what He would do, maybe, sometime in the future… He did the works…He got up out of His chair and took action, just like the Lord is God of action, and there is nothing passive and uninvolved about Him. Titus2:14 implies that not only was Jesus zealous for good works, but we who are freed from iniquity, should also be zealous for good works.
The actions of the wrongness of character and a bruised conscience are visible, and even when done in secret they somehow have a way of finding their way into the public eye. Sort of like when i was a child and fell on some glass. A doctor got most of the glass out and then sewed me up, but over the years, occasionally, a little piece of glass would suddenly appear at the surface of my skin from time to time. Sin is that way just like good works are that way. It may hide for the moment, but our works, evil or righteous, have a way of coming out. “Illustrated Righteousness” is visible, and even when done in secret, they can’t stay hidden. 1 Timothy 5:24-25, “The sins of some people are obvious and go ahead of them to judgment, but the sins of others follow afterwards. Likewise, good deeds are obvious; and even when they are not, they can’t stay hidden.”
Here’s an example of the attitude behind good works. One day, while discussing cruel merchandisers, skimmers, scammers, and fleecers of the innocent, a good friend of mine said, “I don’t think I’m the “best” example of a human on this planet, but I “trade” too… we all do. If I’m trading with somebody I don’t know, I want to trade profitably, but I don’t take advantage of people. As for people in my “circle”, I NEVER profit from them. That’s WRONG.” That is good works, and it’s not just a physical action, but more an attitude which propagates good works. Can you hear what i’m saying about this?
i think we can assume there are believers who are full of good works, like the disciple in Acts9:36, it reads, “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.” The woman’s name literally means “the gazelle” and i take it she was devoted to illustrating the righteousness of Christ in her heart and was known as a graceful person.
Not only were we created to “illustrate righteousness”, but God has actually prepared in advance good works for us to do. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s poetry, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
All our spiritual advantages are from God. We are his workmanship, His poem, not only as people, but as saints. As believers we are a new person by the blood of Jesus, and are born again by His will, by the influence, action, and application of the Holy Spirit. We were created to illustrate righteousness; we were designed to be fruitful. The seeds of righteousness, wherever God has planted them, are the seeds of His character and they will grow good works. We are not saved by our good works, but the good works are evidence of Christ in us.
Can the Lord plant anything which will not grow and be fruitful? God has appointed to us the knowledge of His will, and by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, we live out a life of illustrated righteousness that we would glorify God by exemplary character, conduct, and conversation. Titus 2:7-8, “…in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility and sound speech that cannot be condemned…”.
i believe from the Lord’s perspective, “Good works” come from the hands
of the righteous. Even sinners do good things, but no where does God call
the works of the unredeemed “good works”.
The fruits of righteousness is “good works”, and by His grace, we are
adorned with “good works” that the people of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished with the ability to illustrate God’s goodness. “Good works” do not exist unless, bottom line, unless we DO something, we must make a move and move the ball, or else “good works” don’t happen. In fact, nothing “just happens”. “Good works”require heart and motion. Think about it.
Some would say doing something good is the same as good works, but the Lord considers works done by the hands of the righteous as “good works”. In order for righteousness to be illustrated, we must be righteous to begin with, wouldn’t you say? It’s not about doing something good or not, it’s about the platform doing something good springs from. It’s a matter of the heart, not the action. Our actions don’t make us right with God. Romans 10:9, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Confessing and believing in Christ gives us the righteous platform we need in order to do good works. People, by themselves, without Christ are not enough, that is why “good people” don’t go to Heaven….there aren’t any. Romans 3:23, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
In our link to God, the cross of Christ, there is hidden Shalom, like a fountain in the eye of the landscape of all who are in the House of the Almighty.” Within the word “good”, there is an arm and hand which sews seed, growing the Kingdom of God, so we all can watch and see it grow and know that the Lord is God. Our good works are an expression of mercy, one of God’s key attributes – our illustrated righteousness is considered foundational “good works” and sets an example by our outward practice.
i’m Social Porter and this has been Outposts, cool jazz and contemplative conversation, brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries, believe.bellaillume.com, and Trinity Bakers, where there’s always something good in the oven.
Let your light shine this week, put your feet in motion, get up from your chair and look for a way to illustrate the good seed God has sown in your hearts. We are to live out an illustrated life of righteousness. Get it in gear, the world is watching so give them something to see…let them see your illustrated righteousness.
Be strong and courageous, take your time and listen for the Lord. Amen.