And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:24

As a good Lutheran, I may be accused of heresy if I write a devotion on good deeds. But really,“good deeds” is not a bad phrase – unless we think that by doing them we will earn God’s favor and win salvation.

St. Paul gives us the mandate to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” It is a good thing to encourage our friends and fellow Christians toward those things that help, uplift and support our fellow man.

Some people feel that it is a sin to tell anyone what they do for the Lord. But I have found that if a Christian I know humbly mentions that they help out with Crosslines or sends notes to shut-ins, it encourages me (spurs me on, if you will) to want to do something similar, or something else for which the Lord has gifted me.

Jesus did say that we should not put our light under a bushel, so let us not be timid about encouraging someone in what-ever good deeds they may be doing for the Lord. We just all need to remember that it is not we who do the good deeds, but the Lord who does them through us. And what a blessing it is to be in His service, in whatever ways He has gifted us.

What are your gifts? Can you use them in new ways to serve the Lord? Bless you in so doing.

Prayer

Dear Father, giver of gifts, let us use the gifts You have given us to do the good deeds that You desire and so proclaim Your glory.

Daily Reading: Proverbs 31

– Contributed by Karen Seutter