God’s Working People
The Work of Good Deeds – Part II

Scripture Reading: James 2:14-26

Key Verse: James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

Yesterday’s devotional got us started looking at our obligations to those who have needs. The Bible is clear about this “work” in a believer’s life. We must be concerned about people and the needs of their lives.

As God looks upon the millions who have put their faith in Him, He knows all their gifts and talents. It is God who then “assigns” each believer to a work that He has pre-determined we can do. The Apostle Paul makes this perfectly clear when He wrote to the Ephesian believers:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

I hope you can see that God did not just forgive your sins when you put your faith in Jesus, but He also gave you obligations. A position in God’s family comes with great privileges as well as great obligations.

As we believers consider this, it may cause us to wonder what God has for us personally. Many of us wish the Bible had a list of things that tell us exactly what to do. However, the Bible makes it clear that it is the Holy Spirit guides us. Jesus said:

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

We must depend on the Holy Spirit to nudge us, to point us to the needs that God wants us to meet for those around us. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and we must trust that if He nudges us toward someone or something, we are able to meet those needs.

The reason this is so important is because of the overwhelming number of needs that are all around us. If we are not listening for and depending on the Holy Spirit to speak to us and nudge us, we might miss a need that God wanted us to meet, or we might over commit ourselves in trying to meet more needs that God intends for us.

During your prayer time, ask God to remind you to live this day with an awareness of the talents He has given you and to be alert to the nudges of the Holy Spirit.

Father, I want to You to use me. Please remind me to listen carefully for the nudge of the Holy Spirit. With Your help, I will respond quickly to the needs that You point out to me. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.