Works For God

“Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’” John 6:28-29

God stunned me with the simplicity of this many years ago, and He has shaped me and worked through me all the years since. In example, what follows is an excerpt from the Introduction of my book, “God’s Astounding Opinion of You.” –

“I believe the current work of God is centered upon the following passage, with the immediate benefit being a happy bunch of God-enamored Christians—it’s what God is doing today.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30

“While works for God are important, the work of God in His people should thrill us so much that we become crazy about and gladly dependent on Him. And that’s what life is like when you find Him in you as well as around you. The great joy you find will certainly produce sincere works for God, but that’s not God’s first goal—it’s the result. Works for God are a by-product of grace-filled believers who cannot contain the wonderful, deep urgings and desires of the Spirit living within.

“God is working to impress and convince you of what He has done for you and in you. It’s a labor He really enjoys! As he increasingly wins you over to His way of thinking about you, you’ll increasingly live as you really are because you’ll know who you really are. When your opinion of yourself matches up with God’s opinion of you, and when who you are lines up with how you live, the glory of God will be stunningly evident. And you’ll be living by faith.”

That’s what I believe, and that’s my approach to people whose “works” or “labors” or even “looks” don’t seem invigorated by God. I give them the gospel, stunning and magnificent, and God does what He does—convinces them, builds them up and let’s them live, abundantly and fruitfully. That works for God.