Faith Made Complete

The Bible tells us God tested Abraham by telling him, Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering. (Gen. 22:1-3 NIV)

Many years earlier Abraham had met and responded to this God who was different than the pagan gods. Pagan gods demanded human sacrifice, but the God Abraham knew and loved did not. Now Abraham’s God seemed to require the very thing He had abhorred. How could Abraham understand that it was God speaking?

We cannot fathom such an event. Difficult as it must have been, Abraham obeyed. Early the next morning he and Isaac set off on a three-day journey with two servants and a donkey to carry supplies.

Centuries later James used this story to illustrate the relationship between faith and deeds when he says, You see that his [Abraham’s] faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. . . . (Jas. 2:22)

Sometimes God comes to us and seems to ask the impossible. Will we obey?

When the voice of God told Abraham that he should not offer his son but rather a ram caught in a thicket, he obeyed again. In his obedience, he learned once again that he could trust his Friend.

But Abraham did not know God's plan when he began his journey. His part was trusting his friend. He had to walk by faith.

Originally published November 9, 1984.

Picture: From Patty's garden, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

Good Works

Good works are charitable deeds. Almost everyone appreciates them. They can help create pleasant circumstances and relationships within families, neighborhoods, and communities. Sometimes the media will highlight a good work—and warm everyone’s heart in the process. It’s commendable when people do good works simply because they are the right thing to do.

But very often we run into unforeseen difficulties when we try to do what is right. Our work might be misunderstood or condemned by others. We could end up with wounded feelings. We might run short of energy. We could lose that charitable feeling that should go with our charitable deeds.

If this happens, we can turn to God and He will help us. If we’re motivated to do a good work in His name, He promises to give special grace and strength. The Bible says He makes you complete in every good work. . . .” He never stops “working in you what is well pleasing in His sight. . . . (Heb. 13:21a,c NKJV)

Originally published August 28, 1986.
Picture: Flowers in Addis Ababa, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

Good Works

Although we accept salvation as a gift from God, we have a dangerous tendency to think we deserve credit for good works. Who doesn’t want to be recognized from time to time, to be appreciated for their effort.

While it’s impossible to avoid desiring interaction with others--after all, God did create us as social beings--we need to be careful. Thinking we’re responsible for the good we do isn’t consistent with Scripture. We receive our ability to do good we have by grace through faith. Paul said, it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose. (Phil. 2:13 NIV)
Jesus, our prime example, demonstrated this for us when He said, the son can do nothing by himself, he can do only what he sees his Father doing. . . . (Jn. 5:19 NIV)

Good works always originate with the Father. He delivers the possibilities to His followers through His Holy Spirit. We follow His leading. So we do good works, but not on our own. They’re a response to God’s grace.

Originally published August 23, 1985.