Reflections on "My Utmost" February 15 Part III

My life as a worker is the way I say "thank you" to God for His unspeakable salvation. Remember it is quite possible for any one of us to be flung out as reprobate silver – ". . . lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

All this talk about "Work! Work! Work!"

God works, we receive, others believe on Him as He conceives and achieves His will through us:

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)

What is our work? Believe on Him!:

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 28-29)

Now, works borne of righteousness flow from a life that grows in grace and knowledge of the Lord:

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21)

These works sprang from his faith -- they did not make him righteous, but effected the faith which was accounted to him for righteousness:

"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2: 22-24)

The key phrase here is "faith made perfect", which in original reads "completed", or "perfected." There is no righteous work without faith, but no one can claim to walk in righteousness without their actions demonstrating the inner work that the Finished Work has done in a believer:

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7)

Jesus spoke to the manifestations of obedience as proof of faith:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7: 15-20)

Jesus places incredible importance on transforming the person, and then the actions following:

"33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

There was even hope for the Pharisee:

"Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also." (Matthew 23:26)