Scripture

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind.

~Titus 2:7, NLT

Quote

Good works are not the cause of salvation; they are the evidence of salvation. Put a mouse in front of a cat and you’ll find out if you have a cat. Put a needy person in front of a Christian and you will find out if you have a Christian.

~Ya’akov

On the subject of “Good Works,” Paul said to Timothy...Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good works of some people are obvious. And the good works done in secret will someday come to light. Four times is the short epistle to Titus, Paul mentions good works or good deeds…

• Titus 2:7–Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works.
• Titus 2:14–Jesus Christ…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.
• Titus 3:8–those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.
• 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.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, 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. Paul told the Ephesians in chapter two that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. The Pharisees gave alms to the poor which was considered a good work but they did it to be seen of men and that is the wrong motive. The key is to do good works quietly and inconspicuously. This does not mean you have to hide or do everything in secret. The Good Samaritan saw another human in need and he stopped to help. We respond to need; we help the hurting. It is the motive of the heart that makes the difference. If you are helping someone is Jesus name, you don’t have hid it but then again, you don’t need to broadcast it either. We find the term good works over a dozen time in the NT and everytime it is used in a positive light.

God is transforming us into the image of Christ to do good works. I call them an ASK {act of simple kindness} rather than an ARK {act of random kindness]. After taking Seven Habits, I put an ASK on my daily todo list and sure enough, it became a habit. Send someone a text, a card or a letter. Make a phone call. Visit a neighbor or a shut-in or a retirement home. A good work or an act of simple kindness can be something as easy as a smile or lending an attentive ear. We live in a hyper-active society: no one has time to listen. Slow down, notice people and interact with them.Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone wants someone to care enough to listen.

Years and years ago, June and I would get Mother something for Christmas and then I realized, Mother didn’t want more things, she wanted more of me. She did not want me to run by and drop her a present off, she wanted me to sit down and spend the day listening to her and talking with her. She was lonely and I didn’t have enough sense to realize it. Busy people are not prone to loneliness but when you lose your ability to go and do and you are sitting at home all day, every day by yourself, you get lonely. Just remember, if you live long enough, it will happen to you. Even the shut-ins I know have a cell phone and they know how to read a text. One of the live alones that I visit has a stash by her chair: it is filled with klippings and cards. One day she showed me a card that Hannah sent her twenty years ago. Just get their address and send them a card. It will make their day and it will brighten your day. Make it a habit and begin today.

Extra

God is good and His mercy was new this beautiful morning. This is the day the LORD has made, don’t waste it. I meant to tell you last week about something that happened as I was visiting the retirement homes. One retirement home as a SENIOR BAND. They play 80’s music I think. They have a keyboard, guitars, and a couple of horns, maybe more. They are horrible. I am not a musician but I know a bad note when I heard one and I am telling you this group does not make music, they make noise. I told the person I was visiting, “There is a concert going on in the dinning room.” He said, “I know, I try to stay as far away as possible.” Even with his door shut you could hear them. The horns are hilarious. They never get the timing right and seldom hit the note. You would have to hear it to beleive it. Bad as the music was; it made my day!

Speaking of the day, I hope you have a good one.