From the book “Seeing the Unseen: A Daily Dose of Eternal Perspective” by Randy Alcorn
Blessed Thursday everyone, welcome po sa ating devotion and as we go back to our devotional we find ourselves looking at Matthew 5:16 and Ephesians 2:8-10.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
So, sa mga talatang ito pa lamang, we know that we would be discussing about good works and how our good works is related to God’s glory. Sabi sa Matthew 5 we should let our light so shine before men so that they would see our good works so that they would glorify the Father. Sabi sa Ephesians 2 especially ng verse 10, we are God’s workmanship prepared beforehand unto good works, right? So we would be discussing about good works and God’s glory.
Sabi po rito ni Randy Alcorn, “In Revelation 19:7 we’re told, “‘The wedding of the lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)”(NIV). Note the parenthetical statement in the verse. Then he relays a personal experience: I once cited this verse in a book, and the editor “corrected” it, assuming it was my interpretation. Yung naka-parenthesis. It didn’t sound right. But it is; it’s Scripture!
Somewhere we’ve gotten the erroneous idea that, to God, works is a dirty word. Hindi po, this is a false connotation, this is totally false. While He condemns works done to earn salvation and works done to impress others, sour Lord enthusiastically commends righteous works done for the for the right reasons: for His glory not for ours. Di’ba sa Matthew 5, let your light so shine before men, para saan? so that they would see your good works?, so they will glorify you? No! but they will glorify the Father, your Father who is in heaven.
Indeed, Scripture ties God’s reward-giving to His very character: “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10,NIV). Again, mga kaibigan, we were saved through faith alone but that saving faith is never alone. A genuine proof, a genuine evidence of true saving faith is good works. Di ba? Kasi kung ikaw ay totoong binago ng Panginoon from within, very beautifully, of course we still sin because of our frailties, but the Lord has given us new disposition, a new heart that longs to glorify and worship Him. So therefore, ang totoong mananampalataya would indeed be doing good works, right?
And of course, may mga pagkakataong narinig natin yun na, yung struggle lalo sa theology na, yes we were not saved by good works, but we were saved unto good works. We were saved sabi nga sa Ephesians 2:10, we are Christ’s, we are God’s workmanship prepared beforehand, para saan? unto good works. Upang sa ganun, yun ang lakaran natin. Sinimulan na, inihanda na ng Panginoong Diyos ang landasin na yun, we all need to be in tune and abiding in Christ and walking in them. Di ba? so that is a beautiful reminder but as well, eto po ay isang test ng totoong mananampalataya.
Are you indeed believers of Christ? Are you indeed Christians? Are you indeed born from above? Let’s test our lives, do we do good works? Hindi yung paimbabaw lang, hindi yung pasikat lang, hindi yung para sa ating luwalhati, but is it genuine? Is it for the edification of the church? Is it for God’s glory or your glory? and so in as much as this passage or these passages–Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:8-10– our encouragement for us, that indeed we were called to do good works, they also serve as a test. To be looking into our lives, to be examining our hearts, if they’re indeed good works, and when we say good works, hindi yung paimbabaw na good works and this is not just for our own glory or for people to be impressed, no, but for God’s glory even though hindi nakikita ng marami, even though hindi masyadong sikat, but it is for God’s glory for the edification of the church.
Our devotion comes from the book:
Seeing the Unseen: A Daily Dose of Eternal Perspective by Randy Alcorn
From the author of the bestselling book Heaven, here are 60 meditations that will inspire you to live each day with an eternal perspective. In daily doses, Randy Alcorn offers insights on the Christian life along with Scriptures and inspirational quotes that can transform the way you think and live today.
Note: The Revised and Updated edition of Seeing The Unseen is available for purchase from their EPM store.