The challenge of growing through good works

Acting in Christ's way is more than doing something for Him. The first is focused on faith, the second is focused on what man can do. It is impossible to meet God's expectations if we focus on what we can do for Him because we will never reach a state of satisfaction that leaves us totally excited. We will always have the feeling that we need to do something more. Life based on what we do for God will inevitably put God second and bring a certain self-exaltation and pride in the long run. The Christian acquires a new perspective of holiness if, in working with God, one is convinced that our life in Christ is founded on what He has already done (and does every day) for us.

My first response to the metamorphosis of conversion was to enroll as a job "for God" appeared. And if it didn't appear, I would believe it. He was convinced that "spending myself for God" accumulating hours of service and consecration in any work, was the right thing to do. Years later God made me understand that I was wrong. Rather than looking to my faith for the reason for acting on behalf of the gospel of Christ, I was more focused on what would apparently make me receive the most blessing. I delighted in making plans for Christ and unconsciously tried to carry them out with my own resources. Works, that is, my performance and human performance, mattered more to me than my faith. It seemed to me that without good works it was impossible to please God.

I know that my intentions were good and I also know that the Lord forgave me for those follies that come with first love. The excitement of first love brings these kinds of insanities and sometimes the enemy relies on our good intentions to deviate us from divine purposes. God's purpose for us is not that we become good people and do good deeds, but to know Him more and more through faith so that through it we can be promoters and doers of good works. Steven Furtick has said with certainty: "Christianity is not about turning bad people into good, but about bringing to life those who are dead."

The new life in Christ acquired by faith; It is lived by faith, it is founded on faith and it is nourished by faith, in such a way that doing good works becomes natural as a result of that new DNA that Christ established in our hearts forever. The Apostle James when addressing the doctrine of divine wisdom said that whoever considers himself wise should show his wisdom with a testimony of good works done in meekness (James 3:13).

Good actions (works) speak volumes about our faith in Christ. This good work is not about a doctrine or a creed, nor is it about displaying our good behavior towards our neighbor in the display case of human miseries, seeking recognition and approval from men, but about glorifying God with appropriate action (good works ) towards others, founded on the faith that responds, first of all, to the fulfillment of His will. The Lord warns us about this “Be careful not to do your righteous deeds in front of people to get attention. If you do this, your Father in heaven will not give you any reward ”(Mat 6.1). Comments are superfluous. Jesus warns us about the sin of pride, boasting, and seeking acceptance (from God and men) by doing deeds and good deeds grounded in self-indulgence and vanity. Whoever has not fallen into this subtle trap of the devil, "cast the first stone"!

As we grow in saving faith, the good deeds we perform raise our spiritual stature. The giants of faith, call themselves Daniel, Joseph, Elijah, Paul or Jesus himself were moved to good deeds among men because their faith was unshakable and their devotion to the Father a lifestyle.

Thus we must add to our faith the fruits of good works. This is part of the integral growth of the Christian. What do we gain by professing great faith and hiding the virtues of the true Gospel if we deny our brother the privilege of blessing him with a good deed, a gesture of solidarity in the face of difficulty or a hug of encouragement if he needs it? James affirms that works perfect faith when both act as a whole, when they complement each other in favor of others. Referring to Abraham when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, James said "You see: His faith and his works worked together, and his faith was made perfect by the works he did." (Stg. 2.22).

We conclude with a beautiful statement, perhaps the sentence that should encourage us the most to act with faith and good works in a time of so much selfishness and egotism: “Because we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ordained in advance so that we can put them into practice. (Eph. 2.10 NIV). In other words; because we are born of God we are able to do what is good and discard what is bad. He had always conceived it in his generous plan for our lives to make them come true from our faith in Jesus Christ for the benefit of others.

God bless you!