My Father’s Work

Scripture: John 10:37-42  (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” 39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus. (John 10:37-42 NLT)

Jesus said, “Don’t believe my words, unless I do the works of my Father.” Can we honestly say to our world, “Believe us if we do the works of Jesus?”

Jesus again: 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:18–19 NLT)

More from Jesus: 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me…40…‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:34-36, 40 NLT)

Christianity is about both Words and Works. Words: It’s about believing the Truth of the Good News of Jesus and his Kingdom. Works: It’s about doing the same works Jesus did. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, you are the light of the world.” Jesus said, “The works I do you also will do.”

If we’re truly the Church, we will be as identifiable by doing the things Jesus did to help the poor, the sick, the stranger, the hungry, the imprisoned, and the oppressed, as we are by our preaching and our doctrines.

Prayer:

Father, We’ve often made the Christian identity about words: correct belief and doctrine. Jesus made it about works: living and loving and serving like he did. Please be patient with us, but keep the pressure on until we get this! For the Kingdom’s sake!