/In my calling, answer me, my God of my righteousness; in
narrow-distress You made room for me; be gracious to me and hear my
prayer. Sons of man, until what is my glory to be a disgrace? You love
emptiness, you seek falsehood. Exalt! And I know that Yahweh
distinguished the faithful to Himself; Yahweh hears in my calling to
Him. Tremble-in-anger, yet do not sin; ponder in your heart on your bed,
and be still. Sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness; and trust in
Yahweh. Many are saying: "Who will show us good?" Lift up on us the
light of Your face, Yahweh. You gave gladness in my heart; more than
when their grain and their new wine are abundant. In peace together I
lie down and I sleep; For You,Yahweh in solitude--in safety You cause me
to dwell..
/
How do you know if a fruit is good or not? You may select one in the
produce department which looks good, feels firm & smells ripe. But then
you get it home, take a bite, and find out it is sour! Some fruits
appear all right on the surface, but further investigation reveals their
potential. So it is also with the fruits of *good works*. By such
fruits, true believers will be known. But how do we know which works are
truly *good* ones? Just because they look pretty good on the surface,
don't be fooled!
The first thing to notice about the fruit of good works is their source.
Most people mistakenly think that good works come from God's 10
commandments. They think that God's Law prompts people to be good. But
nothing could be further from the truth. The Law only condemns. It only
kills the sinner. All God's commands can do is serve as a constant
reminder to your Old Adam that he is dead in sin. Oh, it may motivate to
works that appear outwardly good, but such fruit from a dead tree is
always rotten.
Who will show us what is *good*? Not Moses & the commandments, but
Jesus through His gospel Word! For where the Law only kills, the Gospel
gives you life. Jesus proclaims you *forgiven* by His death in your
stead at the +. He revives you to new life in His life-creating Word.
As those who have been raised to new life in Jesus through His love, you
become new creations in Christ, those who now act upon Jesus words. But
these actions aren't your own, they are God's done in you by faith.
The next thing to consider about the fruit of good works is whom they
benefit. Now, there are some who foolishly think that they need to do
good things *for God*. But God is already perfect and self-sufficient.
He doesn't need anybody to do anything good for Him. Others think that
they must do good things for their own benefit, to get the Lord's
attention, to score brownie points with God, to earn His respect, or to
merit Jesus' favor. Foolish people...trying to do the job Jesus already
finished for them!
Jesus' good works already benefited you at the +. He did all the works
necessary for those human beings who so desperately needed it...namely
you! He gave His body to death there & shed His blood for you on that
tree. In the fruits of grain & new wine you have the gladness in your
heart of His body & blood for you to eat in His Supper. Redeemed &
sanctified by Jesus, He makes you useful to walk in good works prepared
in advance, by which He may also bless your neighbor.
One more thing to look for in the fruit of good works is, oddly enough,
what *isn't done*. But don't I gotta help God out? No. Don't I have to
inform Him of things in my prayers? No. Don't I have to make my faith
stronger, & don't I have to work on my repentance? No. Shouldn't I be
expected to come to Jesus on the last day & show Him all I've been doing
for Him? Absolutely Not! Jesus forewarns against such self- &
works-righteousness of those to whom He responds: "I never knew you."
When it comes to the fruit of good works, the best thing that you can do
is often...nothing! "Be still, & know that I am God." At time's it is
best to ponder such things in your heart as Mary did, & lie down on your
bed & just be still. Remember that you are a new creation in Christ
Jesus by virtue of your baptism. Then you will be able to offer the
sacrifices of righteousness, which always begins with sacrificing your
own so-called righteousness in favor of Jesus' holy righteousness given
in baptism.
Those fruits of good works are indeed perplexing things. But remembering
*Whose* works they are: namely the fruits of the Spirit, removes a great
burden from us. Knowing also that we don't need to do any good works to
enhance our status with God, because Jesus accomplished all of it
already at the +, is a comfort as well. Realizing our righteousness is
not by works but by faith helps us to simply believe God when He
promises to accomplish these things Himself, through you. Your plans,
ideas, and actions actually get in the way. But God's plan of action has
already succeeded for you in Jesus. Amen.
John C. Drosendahl, Pastor
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
.
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