"EVEN SO FAITH, IF IT HATH NOT WORKS, IS DEAD." God's word says so in the Epistle of James. Now being saved by free grace, we should give ourselves wholly for God's glory. Remember: we are created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, to be active in God's cause and for His creatures' good, not only doing good works, but being zealous for them - zealously doing them ourselves, and zealously encouraging them in others. We cannot do too much for Him, who has done so much for us. Our works should proceed from love to God, be regulated by the command of God, and for the glory of God. We cannot be too zealous in performing them, but we ought to be equally zealous in renouncing them as a ground of acceptance with God. Good works are the works of a child, who aims to please his father: they are performed because of what God has done for us, and not to induce Him to favour us with blessings. In working from a right motive we are happy, for after work God gives a reward; and though like Moses, we may have respect unto the recompence of the reward, yet like Paul, who did more than others, we shall heartily disclaim, "Not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

For Meditation:
What is my being but for Thee?
Its sure support, its noblest end;
Thy ever smiling face I see,
I serve the cause of such a Friend.