Now that summer is right around the corner, we have a greater opportunity to interact with the people we may not be close to. Schools are almost out. Graduation parties are filling the calendar. Bridal showers. Weddings. Vacation. Family reunions. It’s not too early to start thinking about how our summer plans need to include a maintenance check.

Paul, in his letter to Titus, wrote: Be careful to maintain good works."

One of the quickest ways to ruin our Christian testimony is by failing to maintain good works.

Simple courtesies in our daily routines make it possible for the light of Christ to shine through our actions, giving us the opportunity to impact someone's life before we ever speak a word.

Open the door for others.
Practice considerate driving.
Allowing someone with few groceries to go ahead of you.
Watch for someone who appears to be having a bad day and casually greet them with a genuinely warm smile.
Offer an encouraging word to someone you've lost touch with.
Take a hot meal to a widow or widower.
Send a greeting card to someone you're praying for.

There are a number of ways to show the love of Christ to others with little effort.

We have no excuse not to "maintain good works"!

Someone recently shared with me that they could easily tell which people had sincere relationships with Christ by their actions.  If we allow it, the work God is doing in our hearts will show outwardly, becoming profoundly visible in many ways. 

But we have to allow it by subduing our natural tendency to prefer ourselves over others, and by realizing that our mission is to lead people everywhere to an understanding of the love of God.

Take some time to do a good works maintenance check. 

Did you cut off a driver because you were in a hurry? 
Did you push your way to the counter ahead of someone without regard to those around you?
Have you walked down the street making eye contact and smiling at passers-by? 
Did you get angry with the clerk who was taking too long?

The list goes on and on.

Check yourself—and often. 

Make sure your good works are communicating to others that you are different, peculiar, and, most importantly, a child of the King. 

Don't fall into the trap of treating the world as the world treats you.

Set a higher standard for your life so the love of Christ will show through every word, every deed, and every step you take.

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to consider my ways every moment of every day, looking for every opportunity to do good works that will reflect the good work You have done and are doing in me. Amen.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)

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© 2026 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

“Sit often under the influence of God’s Word.”🌻
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