A Partial List of Good Works

143 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 5:9,10 “Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. (1 Tim 5:9,10) Again, this Scripture seems quite odd to us because we weren't around when “the number” was evidently a common thing in the church. Nonetheless, there are things we can learn from what is being said here. We have already learned that God's Word takes marriage very seriously. Next, we get an inkling of those things which God considers good works. It is not the complete list of course, but this is something that a woman of God can look at and say, “hey I've done some of this stuff....and God deems it as good! Have you raised children? Your own or the children of others? Motherhood is a good thing! Have you lodged strangers? Have you opened your home up to others who need a place to stay? This was a far more common occurrence in biblical days, but you can practice this form of hospitality today as you provide lodging for missionaries, or college students, or here in this part of Wisconsin, visitors to the EAA, or even minor league baseball players. Maybe you can't take in a homeless person, but you certainly can volunteer at the local homeless shelter. These are good things! Have you washed the saints feet? That too is a good thing, and it simply speaks of finding ways to serve in your local congregation. Have you sought to provide relief for the afflicted? The word means those who find themselves in a tight spot. You know them in, and outside, the church. People who are feeling the pressures of life. Financial, marital, emotional, and health issues. Have you sought to help release some of that pressure by direct aid or just being there to let them blow off some steam? Finally do you have a track record of finishing what you started? Are you diligent in following through on your good works. These are all good things in the sight of God. Will you be good at all of them? Probably not. But at least here we all get an inkling of just some of the things that are pleasing to God. As we seek to please Him for the kindness and mercy He has shown us through Jesus Christ, these are good places in which to express our thanks.