Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Monday, FEBRUARY 5 Be Zealous for Good Works Titus 2:14 (GNB, Living Bible)

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Monday, FEBRUARY 5

Be Zealous for Good Works

Titus 2:14 (GNB, Living Bible)
He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good. *He died under God's judgment against our sins so that he could rescue us from constant falling into sin and make us his very own people, with cleansed hearts and real enthusiasm for doing kind things for others.

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Many believers acknowledge that they have been turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. Many believers also realize that they have received forgiveness of their sins and an inheritance in God like Acts 26:18 reveals. However, not as many believers have deeply realized that one major reason why Christ saved and redeemed us is for us to enthusiastically do good works, as referenced in our texts above. We are not saved by our works. We are saved by grace, but we are not saved to a grace of laziness. We are saved by grace to do good works, Eph.2:8-10. This is why God recreated us in Christ and why He anointed us and filled us with His Spirit.

Acts 10:38 does not indicate that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and power so He could simply sit down and enjoy Himself. It shows us that Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. Jesus maintained a strong sense of purpose and He was zealous and diligent in doing the good works that God the Father wanted Him to do on this earth, John 9:4-5. We must do the same.

A 'good work' is an action that flows out of the life of God that is in you. However, it is not enough to just do good works. We must be zealous and passionate about them. In John 14:10, Jesus reminded us that it was the Father in Him that was causing Him to do the works that He was doing. Doing good works brings glory to God the Father (John 17:4) and we are made for His pleasure, Rev.4:11. If you are eager to glorify God, do good works. Allow the Spirit of God to lead you and to use you to do good works today.

PRAYER FOCUS:Thank God for recreating you in Christ to do good works. Yield yourself to the Holy Spirit and tell Him that you are eager to do good works that will bring glory to God the Father today.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: EXODUS 36-38; MATTHEW 23:1-22

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