“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what we has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” In the first creation story in Genesis, all that God creates is intended for and is good. Because of that, we do not have to prove that goodness to God. God is already aware. We don’t find forgiveness and relationship with God because of what we do. Instead, it is available to us because of who God is and because we are God’s beloved.
When we examine our deepest selves, identify sin in our lives, offer it to God, and turn from it, we find forgiveness and new life, making space for that goodness to show up in our lives. In this sense, good works are the outflow of our faith – of living an examined life where we are willing to name and claim our sin, and trust God to give us a better vision for how to be.
Spend some time in contemplation today. Think back over the past few days and consider where sin might have shown up in your life. What thoughts might have devalued the life of another? What words might have unintentionally harmed another? Where has pride and ego shown up in your life? What actions might have contributed to systems of injustice or oppression?
Offer these sins to God and find hope in the promise that your faithfulness bears much more fruit than your sin.