Good Works

Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

As believers, we are called to perform good works and deeds on this earth. As mentioned in Ephesians, we are created to do these good works because of who we are in Christ Jesus. It is our responsibility to do as Christ did, following His perfect example of what good works are and how to go about doing them.

Now, look at this! "...which God prepared in advance for us to do." That has to be my favorite part of the verse. It is amazing to me how God has already pre-destined these good works for us. He already knows the greatness we are to reach, and the impact we are to have on this earth. That alone excites me about all that He has planned for my life. As it should excite you about yours! Knowing that God has already set up your good works, creates that sense of trust God has in you. God knows your potential, and the blessings to come out of you in the future.
It is always important to keep a few things in mind: Always allow these good works to flow out of you naturally. Good works must come from your heart because you desire them, not because you have to do them. Good works are an important factor to our walks with Christ, but doing them in the wrong spirit can and may lead to burn out. You may be surprised by how much more satisfied you feel when a "good work" is done out of love and not solely on routine.

REMEMBER, our salvation wasn't earned by our good deeds. We are all saved by faith, and not by good works alone. Nevertheless, God wants your life to be filled with good works, doing what is right and helpful to others. In this we are to follow the example of Jesus, who "went around doing good" (Acts 10:38).

Do great! Be great! Because you are great!

-Bobby Williams III (Sheauxtime)

Be Receptive

Accepting criticism is hard to do. Whether it is at work or school – no one likes to be told they are wrong. No one wants to hear that they are not living up to the standards of excellence that are set for them. It is even harder to accept criticism when it comes to our spiritual walks with God and how we reflect Him in our lives.

We all like to think that we are living “right”. That we are doing what we are supposed to… at least most of the time. However, when it comes to God, we should be constantly striving for excellence. We should always be looking for ways to give more of ourselves to God by giving Him the Glory He deserves. It is important to understand that there is always room for growth in our spiritual walks.

Self-reflection does not always work when it comes to spiritual growth - that is where listening to criticism comes into play. When our brothers and sisters in Christ try to correct us with something pertaining to our spiritual walks, we should have an open mind to what they are saying. Sometimes those are the best opportunities for growth and understanding.

“If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”

-Proverbs 15: 31-32

Now, this does not mean that you have to change everything that is pointed out – it just means you are taking time to evaluate what others are saying. When you hear criticism you should definitely talk with God about it! If it is a change He desires to see in you, He will certainly let you know! But we must take the first step. We need to be open and receptive to the criticism that others offer.

 

Do great! Be great! Because you are great!

-Bobby Williams III (Sheauxtime)