Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 1-30-24, John 5:36 b- "...for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me." Jesus said his "works" testified that He was God's Son. He also said that He did what God, the Father, showed Him to do. "I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing..."(verse 19) He also said, "My Father is working until now, and I myself am working."(Verse 17) What works did Jesus do? Matthew 11:5 - 6 - "the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” He did more than that, but that is a good beginning list. We are commanded to "work" as well. Our first "work" is to believe in Jesus for salvation, trusting Him, that what He says He will do, will be will be done. Jesus accused his interrogators of lack of love for God. Verse 42- "but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves." We are to only seek God's love and God's glory, not the glory from association with, and the works of, godless men. Our "works" are to do as we have been told to do throughout the Bible. Jesus, who was fully God, and fully man, did what God showed must be done. Can we do less? “'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37-39) Love is the work and it is often difficult, hard, work. Love God; love people. Love requires commitment to God and His truth. Doing works for God, as God directs, requires an intimate tie of love between yourself and God. Jesus demonstrated God's love in His life, His death, and His resurrection. Are you doing Gods work, God's way?