Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

What does doing the works of God mean to you?  If you are a Christian, it can mean any number of things. I have walked with the Lord long enough to realize a few things about doing His works.   I fully believe that the Lord's works are done first and foremost in our hearts.  Out of this connection, or as Oswald Chambers puts it, "comradeship," His works flow outward.   What I mean is, it is much easier to put the proverbial cart before the horse, the cart being outer good works.  The true work, what Jesus is after, lies within our hearts.  When the Lord takes up residence in our hearts, via the Person of the Holy Spirit, He comes to rule and reign there.  When we allow Him to rule in our hearts, that is how His works are accomplished through us. Now this is actually the harder work, because it is not tangible or quantifiable.  And Lord knows, we are a results-driven society! But remember, the Lord is after our hearts.  Always.  This is Scriptural (see I Samuel 16:7).  The

Many people are devoted to a cause, or to service, or to their families.  All good devotions they. But as Christians, our devotion is to Christ.   Our devotion is to a Person. This makes all the difference because it places the cart where it belongs, after the horse, not before it. It is easier, in some ways to be devoted to events, things, happenings, service, and so on. Why?  Because these are tangible and measurable.  "I give to the poor."  "I tithe 10%."  "I go to church every week."  Good deeds all are these. But it makes me wonder why Jesus turns some "do-gooders" away in the end?  It's a frightening Scripture, for sure, if Jesus is talking to you. "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus is speaking to those who

God is at work in the world.  He has many ways that He gets His work done.  God does not "need" our help.  God is God! But one of the way He chooses to accomplish His will on the earth is through us.  Yes, us!  Weak, fallible, messed up humans.   God partners with us to get His work done in the world. Now His work is not only outer accomplishments.  Does He want us to feed the poor, heal the sick, feed His sheep, and so on?  Yes. But there is a deeper work that God is about doing: heart work. God is in the process of transforming our hearts so that we may glorify Him.  We have nothing to offer in and of ourselves.  When we are born again, at least we have a chance!  How?  It is through the supernatural power and work of the Holy Spirit that resides in us who gets all the glory, all the credit, for any holy work that we do, outer and inner. I have seen and learned that the outer work is the easier of the two.  People can pretty much make their minds up to go about doing good t