For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV
What are good works? Good thoughts, words, and deeds that originate in the soil of faith. Good works are guided by God’s law and aim at the glory of God. In other words. Your actions are a result of Christ-centered thinking.
If you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong. Romans 14:23, MSG
This is confusing, because we all know non-Christians who do very nice things and some Christians whose actions are downright ugly. The main difference between Christians and others is that we take God seriously, and they do not. As believers, we agree that all good in this present world comes from God. But we can’t call anything good that leaves God out of the picture.
Our heart motivation is the important issue. God is pleased with good works that come from the hearts of his children. Something isn’t good because it’s what your parents expect from you, because tradition demands it, because your peers will like you for it, or because it will look good on your resume. Good works conform to the law of God. And we need to know God’s word to do God’s will.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrew 4:12, ESV
A heart for God, knowledge of his Word, and a desire to be Jesus’ disciples—to follow closely behind him and do what he does, say what he says, think like he thinks, love like he loves—this is the motivation for good works. And when we mess up—and we all will—we will be forgiven. Our sins are paid for. No one’s keeping score—it’s not whoever does the most good works wins. On the other hand, performance-oriented people are driven by fear and anxiety, by dread and guilt. We will do the right things, but for the wrong reasons. Remember, it’s not what we are doing, but why we are doing it.
We laminate good works and love. We seal them together in one pretty package. You need a utility knife, a surgeon’s scalpel, to slide between the fused plastic and cut apart this false linkage or structure. It takes the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to separate them, to bring it to our attention and to bring us to the place where we want the Lord to separate them.
God’s plan is for my daily life to be given, guided, guarded, and energized by the grace of God. To live in grace is to flow in the Spirit.
Kathleen S Evenhouse 