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November 19 – What I Do

Read: Ezekiel 39:1-40:27, James 2:18-3:18, Psalm 118:1-18, Proverbs 28:2

So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.       (James 2:24)

Relate: “We are shown right by what we do.” In the NIV it says “a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” When I am caught, what are some of my excuses that I might give? If I am confronted about something, how do I rationalize my actions? “You don’t understand.” Or, “You don’t know what I’m going through.” Or “That’s not what I meant to do/say.” Or, “You don’t see the real me.” Ever used any of these? They all, and many excuses like them appeal to the myth: “God is more concerned with who you are than what you do.” Or, “God is more concerned with my heart than my actions.”

React: These last two statements are a knee jerk reaction against legalism. It is true that do not do good works so that we might be righteous. No matter how much good we do, it will never be enough to earn anything from God. All we have from Him comes through grace. It is not earned. This is true, but sometimes we put so much emphasis on the fact that we are saved from works that we forget that we are also saved for work. (see Ephesians 2:10)

God looks at my heart. Nobody else does. Nobody else has x-ray vision. Nobody else can know my thoughts. Nobody else understands my motivations. The only way God’s holiness can be seen through me is by what I do. The only way His love can be made manifest is by my actions. God knows whether or not I am righteous. He knows He has made holy. The only way anyone else (including me) can know, is by how I live my life. So what am I doing to show His righteousness? Is my faith backed up by my actions?

Respond: God, I fall so short. I know how I am supposed to live but I never even seem to come close. Help me to be righteous. Help me to be holy. It can only come through Your grace, but let it come. I can never do right on my own. Help me to show this world that I am not on my own. Let the world see You, lived through me.