Sometimes people hear sermons or read articles about “doing good works” and “working out your own salvation” and “always abounding in the work of the Lord” and “doing the will of the Father in heaven,” and they are sometimes filled with doubt or grief or trepidation (or even negative emotions toward the one who focused on those portions of Scripture). And here’s what someone like you might say after such an emphasis of this manner on good works: “I’m not perfect! I’m far from it! I will never be able to do everything that God wants me to do perfectly! I’m going to make mistakes and fall short, and probably do that every day. So, there’s no way that I’m going to heaven, because I am never going to be able to reach God’s expectations for me.”
If that’s you, I have good news for you. God does not expect you to be perfect! God is not making demands of you that are impossible or unrealistic for you. God knows that you are going to make mistakes—He’s the one who told you that in the Bible. God knows that you will never be able to do everything just right. And that’s what makes Him such an amazing God! Think about what He has told us about this.
Has God made demands of us? Yes, that’s undeniable. Does God call us to obey His commands? Yes, that’s also undeniable. But (are you ready for this?), He actually helps us to do EVERYTHING that He commands us to do!
When we do God’s good works, He is WITH US (Matt. 28:20). He “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
When we do God’s good works, He HELPS US. When commanding us to be fruitful in our good works for Him, Jesus said, “without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
When we do God’s good works, He WORKS IN US. He “works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13; cf. Heb. 13:21).
Isn’t that amazing!? You’re NOT on your own in your good works for Him! When we think, “I’m never going to be able to reach God’s expectations for me,” HE reminds us that HE is “able” (Eph. 3:20-21).
So, let’s do this. Let’s “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). That’s not perfect. That’s walking with Him—easy and doable. Let’s strive to be “faithful” (Rev. 2:10). That’s not perfect! That’s doing the best that I can with what God gives me—easy and doable. And here’s what happens as I do that. The grace and mercy of God (Who wants me to succeed more than anyone else) is poured out on me to help me do His will and to forgive me when I fall short of it (1 John 1:7). What an amazing God we get to serve!