KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKS
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKS
“Keep up the good work” is an idiom in the English language used to praise and encourage. So I come to encourage us today to keep up the good works we have been doing.
Whether our good works have been standing in the gap or interceding for Nigeria, whether it’s been giving to and supporting the less privileged or whether we have been in the position of encouraging others who are down and depressed, please let us not ever think of quitting. Believe me, we are doing a great job and it will not go unrewarded.
I read the story of a man who did a lot of good things for a group of people. I have no idea if he ever believed that he would one day benefit from these people. But I think not. I think he did all he did in good faith. Well one day he needed help and it turned out that the very people he had helped in the past were now in a position to put in a good word for him so as to have his need met. And they did. This is the story of a centurion whose servant was sick to the point of death. He cared so much for this servant that he sought out some Jewish leaders to ask Jesus to come and heal his dying servant. “So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” So Jesus went with them.” Luke 7:4 – 6a NLT
What had happened was that the centurion (a highly placed Roman officer) had helped build their synagogue. In those days there was no love lost between the Jews and the Romans yet this Roman did not hold back from being good to them. And this touched Jesus heart so much so that Jesus started to go with them to heal the man’s servant. Like that Centurion who Jesus was moved to help, I pray that Jesus will be moved to help us as we continue our good works. “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do”. Hebrew 6:10 NLT When we help others it is a message of love to God. As tough as it is out there right now, some of us (and only by the grace of God) still have our heads above water . Maybe we are not fretting but we are quietly trusting God that even “this” will work together for our good. Let us therefore reach out in any way that we can. Do something good for someone whom we know is struggling. It will not go unrewarded. We were not told how long it was that the Centurion had built the synagogue for the Jews but one day that act was called up as a memorial. Remember another centurion named Cornelius in the book of Acts 10:4? His good deeds were also remembered. And salvation came to his household. The truth of it all is that any good we do is for ourselves on the long run. So when we hold back from doing good that is within our power, we really do ourselves a disservice. If all the good we can do is pray at a time such as this, it is a whole lot of good. Let us do it. Hear what Apostle Paul says about doing good deeds “Even when I was in Thessalonica, you helped me more than once. I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving. I have been paid back everything, and with interest. I am completely satisfied with the gifts that you had Epaphroditus bring me. They are like a sweet-smelling offering or like the right kind of sacrifice that pleases God. I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:16-19 Contemporary English Version.
When we do good, it pleases God. There are also blessings that come with doing good. Do not be discouraged and do not quit.
LET US KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKS! GOD SEES THEM AND HE IS PLEASED.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©