Heart

Good works. 

What do you think of when you see those words? What are good works? 

For some, they are a way to get to heaven. For others, they are a way of keeping up appearances. For Christians, though, they are what we do. 

But where is that line between bringing God glory and bringing us glory? 

We know that good works don't save us (Isaiah 53:6, Eph 5:8-9). We also know that good works are a fruit of faith (James 2:17). But somehow we make good works a part of our sanctification. 

I grew up around and in the legalistic community of Christians. There was always this emphasis on doing good, looking just so, acting in this or that way, and separating ourselves from the evil in the world. Sounds good, right? Wrong. I was all about what we were doing to be "Good Christians" and became less about what Christ was doing in our lives to make us into His image. All of this was being motivated out of a self-centered, greatest-in-God's-kingdom heart. We had lost our reason-Jesus Christ. We had the good works. We didn't have the heart. 

Revelation 3:1-6 speaks to the church in Sardis about their good works. They had a reputation of being alive because of their works, when in fact they were dead. They had the appearance of lividity, but it was just the makeup of good works. "Wake up and strengthen what remains and what is about to die for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God." Not complete. Just as faith without works is dead, works without heart are incomplete. They are hollow. You can do all the right thing, say all the right things, and look like all the right things, but if you are doing it so that people will think well of you, you're doing it wrong. 

Our good works  should point to THE good work-Christ and Him crucified.  This isn't just for the legalists. Any good work you do should be for the glory of God. Don't do it so that everyone will say, "Wow! They're really dedicated!" Instead, do it because you love Jesus and you want to serve Him in any way you can. 

Maybe that means you do all those things that no one sees. Or maybe it means staying humble in the lime light. Whatever it is, let it point to Jesus. 

Shake us up, Lord!