Doing the work of God
by Pastor Mark Gierus
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‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent’ (John 6:28,29).
Have you ever been confused about what God really wants from you?
What should I do, God? Should I sign up for a new program that has something to do with mission? Perhaps I need to pray harder or read every word of the Bible? Am I working hard enough for you?
Often the work of the devil is to draw us into thinking like this – am I doing enough?
You see, the devil often burdens us with lies like this – are you doing more and more for Jesus? Instead of doing things out of faith, we get drawn into thinking, am I doing enough for faith? Faith is a gift not earned at all by our works for God, rather given so we can walk in the works, the good deeds of God as Saint Paul reminded us, ‘we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2).
Jesus tells us today as he did the people of his day a very simple truth. It has faith at the heart of the matter. You see, it is not so much what we do in life; rather, it is what is done in faith. If all our actions are done to others out of our faith in Jesus, then lives are changed because people meet the one who is both the author and perfector of our faith, Jesus Christ.
So, what is it that we must do to perform the works of God? The work of God is simply this: to believe in the one whom the Father has sent. In other words, to believe in Jesus. I don’t know about you, but that is somewhat freeing, isn’t it? To do the works of God is simply to believe. In faith, we receive all God has promised us in his only Son – eternal life, salvation and forgiveness of sins. And in faith, our good deeds and our works are for God’s glory by sharing his love with the world.
Gracious Father, you call us to do good works, and the good work is to believe in your only Son, Jesus. Strengthen our faith, so we see your Son in our life and follow him boldly living in this world where you have placed us to share your love through our actions in Jesus. Amen.
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