The Key

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well-fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. — James 2:15-17

Prayer and faith are key ingredients for change, but we still have work to do. We are called to impact the world for Christ and bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. You can do this by preaching the gospel message and by helping those in need. By doing so, you show Christ’s love for others.

Remember, good deeds—doing something to create greater good in our world—is an outward expression of our inward faith. We can affect change in the world because of our faith. Though works aren’t how we are saved, works are how we serve the God who has saved us.

First Corinthians 3:12-14 teaches us that on the day of judgment, Christ is going to test how we built on His foundation. He’s going to show our work for what it is, test it, and show its quality. You do not know when your last day on earth will be. You do not know when you will lose the opportunity to labor in God’s fields. So go out and spread the good news each day.

Pray

Father, help us to spread Your good news every day. Help us to see those in need. Help us to do a good deed. Father, help us to just lose ourselves and pick up Your cross, and serve someone else, whatever that small gesture of kindness would be.

Lord, give us the strength to help somebody, to walk out in love, to say a kind word, to do whatever it is that You call us to do in our hearts. Help us to be guided by You, strengthened by You, and just follow Your leading throughout our day.

Lord, thank You that You give us a heart of compassion for other people. That is the key. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

For further reading, see Matthew 9:37, John 9:4, and Acts 20:30-36.