Daily Devotions: February 4, 2017

Daily Devotions: February 4, 2017

Matthew 5:13-16

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” vs. 16

For some Christians, especially those who love Pauline theology, good works are regarded with a certain suspicion. For them salvation is all about grace and faith alone and any talk about works can be a dangerous distraction. Their emphasis on grace can be appreciated, yet it’s also important for us to recognize that good works, in Jesus’ estimation, were essential for effective witness. Jesus grace was a given…the very foundation of our connection to God. We are the salt of the earth! We are the light of the world! We are the called children of God and we are to let our light shine before others. And we let that light shine, not with our theology of grace, but with our good works. As those works are seen by others, as they see us in the soup kitchens, marching for justice on behalf of the oppressed, comforting the mourning, healing the broken…they are enlightened and will give glory to God. Now in the course of our lives we will be tempted to privatize faith and keep it to ourselves, to keep hidden the special grace relationship we have with Christ. For Jesus that would be the equivalent of putting a lamp under a bushel basket, a total misunderstanding of our mission. We are set aside by grace to light up the dark places–and we do that with our good works.

Thought for the Day: What good works did people see in me today?

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