With Him? Or, Without Him?

See earlier blogs for more on these passages or buy the book “From Here …By Faith”

For the last several months I have been blogging from my book, From Here …By Faith.

In this blog, I am beginning to sum up the four chapters in the first section of the book.

Jesus said would do greater works than He (John 14)

Paul said those works are prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2)

James said faith without works is dead. (James 2)

Jesus said He knows you works and that He know they are not completed (Revelation 3)

These first four chapters of the book, From Here …By Faith might be summed up like this:  

The outcome of growing in relationship with Him is growth in faith in Him.    

The outcome of growth in faith in Him is growth in relationship with Him.    

If we act on the suggestion that we have greater works to do without growing in our relationship with Him, there’s a good chance we’ll think we know what to do without hearing from Him. When we act without hearing from Him there’s a good chance what we do won’t work the way we think it should. As much as I’d like to, I have not been able to find in the Word where it tells me to do works on my own (See the story of Saul).   

You’ll remember I noted something above about your list of good works which you already know how to do. Things like giving your tithes and offerings, helping the poor and the widow. Keep doing these things as you pursue a deeper relationship with Him. These are good things. As you grow in relationship with Him and come to know how you belong in and to the Kingdom of God, I think you’ll find He has more plans for you to do than these works.   

Jesus prophesied that we would do greater works. Paul confirmed His word by noting that good works have been created in advance for us to do. James exhorted that faith and works must go together because faith without works is dead. And Jesus warns us to complete the works so that they are not unfinished.  

We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!  

**(See earlier blogs for more on these passages or buy the book “From Here …By Faith”)