GodReflection: Power Words Wednesday

Should Webster request my assistance—the primary definition I would give for the word deed is a generous act toward others.

The ultimate deeds originate with God. God’s deeds are always generous.

Never are God’s deeds self-serving.

I want deeds to be a power word in my life. However, when I read my New Testament I get a mixed message on deeds.

Jesus tells the story of a person who lists good deeds before the Judgment Seat of God and as a result gets the sentence of eternal darkness away from the Father.

That isn’t exactly the text to use to get our little ones onto the track of service.

The Apostle Paul teaches me salvation by grace alone while the Apostle James teaches me faith without deeds is no faith at all. It is only religion. Good deeds in and of themselves don’t assure me a place in God’s eternal city.

My return to heart seems inevitable.

In Jesus’ Judgment scene what he points out is that the “do-gooder” didn’t know God.

More precisely, God didn’t know the one who listed deeds. I think it is fare to say deeds that come from any other motivation than from God’s heart don’t aid in my salvation.

On the other hand, a person cannot know the heart of God and fail to act.

God wants my neighbors to witness His salvation act in Jesus. He wants my neighbors to see His heart. As I focus on Jesus, I see the heart of God.

I see that Jesus reflected God’s heart by service and sacrifice—even to the point of the divine deed of giving his life on a cross.

The night prior to the grace-filled deed Jesus’ heart beat in unison with God’s heart. What was about to happen the next day was the only way to restore creation.

Here’s what I think.

The more my own heartbeats are in sync with the Holy the more powerful good deeds can become common to my walk. Only then will my deeds stand as witness to God.

I don’t help an elderly lady cross the street because I learned that action in Scouts.  I do so because I learned that action in God.

I like the way Paul states it in his defense before King Agrippa, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 

It is from a repentant heart focus on God’s heart that deeds flow.

I want that kind of deeds to make the word deed a power word in my walk.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on God’s Power of Deeds.

Gary@Godreflection.org     www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com