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God's Exquisite Garden
GOOD WORKS
The word good means morally excellent, of high quality, honorable or worthy, genuine. A second definition is satisfactory in quality, sound or valid, agreeable or sufficient. The word good also means pleasant, or favorably regarded. The word work means an exertion or effort directed to accomplish something. Another meaning of work is labor, toil, or an activity.
Our purpose here on earth is for us to glorify God and to do good. This needs to be done both in our manner of life and the words we choose to use. When we use the term good works, we are indicating that there are works that are not good. A Christian is not, therefore, meant to be an idle person. But just being busy is not enough. We need to make sure we are actively doing good. We are exhorted to abound in every good work, not rarely performing a good work.
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"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:58
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A Biblical example is the worthy woman of Proverbs. This virtuous woman was a woman of industry. If we read the list of her achievements, we would see that she was busy performing good works; caring for her family and husband, working industriously, and helping the poor. Her story is in Proverbs 31.
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"Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
so he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
all the days of her life. " Proverbs 31:10-12
Christ Jesus is our supreme example in all He did, including His good works. In the book of Luke, we are told that Jesus "went about doing good".
In Acts 10:38 we read how ,"God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
"For as we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
Jesus lived on earth as a man and had feelings and relationships, His mission was to save lost souls. The Bible in its purity teaches about good works, and Christians need to engage in them if we are to please God.
With tenderness and compassion, Jesus healed the sick, fed the multitudes, made blind eyes to see, raised the dead, lame legs to walk, calmed storms, and performed other good works we are not told of in the Bible.
"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31
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The love of Christ also included rebuke, when rebuke was needed.
Read Matthew 15:7-8, "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
and honor Me with their lips,
but their heart is far from Me."
"But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, ' Why do you test me, you hypocrites? '"Matthew 22:18
" Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanless." Matthew 23:27
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As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:9 (NKJV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us ,a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma .
Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)
...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory for now and forever. Amen
II Peter 3:18 (NKJV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
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In doing good works, we need to make a choice between what is good and better rather than good and bad.
Our Lord Jesus Christ exemplified perfect love. Nothing less should be done by the Christian.
We should not want our deeds to be seen of men, but to bring glory to God. A Christian cannot be involved with good works without growing in Christ. The larger portion of the church is busy today. What are they busy doing?
How can we justify the fact that more good works are done by too many Christians through civic clubs rather than for the Lord's cause? Where are our priorities if we spend our time diligently supporting a program in the community but don't have sufficient time to work for God? What are we telling others?
When we are on vacation, do we make certain to find the local church we are near? If we find it, do we attend? We need to make certain that the Lord is first on our list of priorities.
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There are so many areas in which we can quietly perform good works for the Lord's cause. Here is a list of some areas in which we can quietly serve the Lord. We can teach Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights, teach ladies classes, teach VBS, be a camp counselor at a church camp, assist the church secretary in many ways, visitation, teach a Bible study, or allow the Bible study to be held at our home, etc..
Somewhere our priorities got confused, we lost sight of the purpose of our good works; to glorify our Holy Lord. Even when we are working for our Lord, our outward appearance might be in compliance with God's truth, but if our heart is filled with a wrong spirit, we condemn ourselves.
Before we are able to teach, we must have a knowledge of the Bible. You cannot teach what you do not know.
"(We) do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:9-10
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Too often, women have been reluctant doing work for the Lord because they don't have a public leadership role that is scripturally authorized. They should be busy performing the things God tells us to do. There are so many ways in which women can serve the Lord as He has authorized. There are the widows, the sick, nursing homes, the bereaved, the poor to assist, the lonely and the depressed. A phone call or a card is helpful.
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We are able to encourage every good work. We as Christians should not refuse to encourage a good work simply because it was not our idea.
" For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. "Titus 2:11-14
DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:
1) I am busy, what can I do for the Lord?
2) If faith is all that is needed for me to get to heaven, why would I do good works?
3) Why are good works necessary?
4) What can I as a woman do for the Lord?
Copyright 2007 Linda Lawrence
Lessons in this Series
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Praying For You, Thomas Kinkade Boxed Cards
By Thomas Kinkade / Dayspring
This box of 12 cards (3 each of 4 designs) feature artwork by Thomas Kinkade and Scripture from KJV. Inside is a thoughtful prayer message. Great for cheering up and encouraging your Christian friends!
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Photos courtesy Stock Xchng,
Free Groups.net,
and Heartlight images
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